My Own Vineyard I Have Neglected

"Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. My mother's sons were angry with me and made me take care of the vineyards; my own vineyard I have neglected,"  Song of Songs 1:6

In September 2007, I made a decision (it's written in my Bible next to this verse) that I would no longer neglect my vineyard (heart).  I had a realization that many other things had taken the priority in my heart & life~ all good things, but because I was so busy doing all these good things, my own heart was neglected.

Something we see about the bride in this passage is that she is aware of her darkness.  She feels the shame of the darkness of her heart and knows that others are aware of her failure and weakness.  Her cry is "do not stare at me".... I think toddlers can best demonstrate this by their disobedience, rebellion or temper tantrums. They take their stand and say "Don't look at me".  Not that the bride is a toddler, but spiritually she is.  She is allowing others to overwork her~ she is burned out and is concerned about what others are thinking of her.  To add to that, she is feeling a rejection by people around her (who are angry with her), those who do not understand her.  She is allowing other people &  life circumstances to control her~ life is happening TO her. 

As she examines her heart & life, she recognizes that her own vineyard (heart) has been neglected.  This is a turning point for the bride.  She begins to be proactive in searching for ways to nurture her vineyard (heart) back to wholeness~ the work of repairing intimacy.

So what does a neglected heart look like? 

• complacent ( no zeal for Jesus)
  
• dull (lacking interest)
  
• unresponsive (not responding to Jesus)
  

There are so many options available today to give your heart to, that it can be a slippery slope to complacency and dullness. If you realize that your heart is unresponsive to Jesus or apathetic to His Voice, His Word, His love for you, make a resolve in your heart, like I did in September 2007.  Confess:  I WILL NOT NEGLECT MY VINEYARD (HEART). 

How to nourish your heart toward love:
1) Say "YES" to Jesus ~ make a renewed commitment to Him today! 

• Small acts of obedience show love to Jesus
  
• Small seeds of love sown in the fertile soil of your heart will grow into plants that bear much fruit 
  

2) Spend time with Jesus ~ "...only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken from her," Luke 10:42. Time spent with Jesus is always beneficial to your heart.  It will not be lost or forgotten by Jesus, instead it is to your advantage to listen to His Voice and spend time in His Presence.

• Commit to read God's Word everyday~ invite the Presence of the Holy Spirit to lead you as you read
  
• As you read, 1) look for God's promises and write them in your journal~ meditate on them, and 2) look for commands that you are to obey to show your love to Jesus (write those in your journal) and commit your heart to obey.
  
• Pray God's Words back to Him~ Share your heart with Jesus.  And let Jesus share His heart with you (I call this "listening prayer"~ asking questions of Jesus to hear what is on His heart to share with you). 
  

This is a great beginning for setting your heart to be nourished, not neglected in love! 

Make the confession:  I WILL NOT NEGLECT MY HEART!

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