1. The Heart
THE HEART IS THE SEAT OF FEELING,...
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23 KJV).
...THE HOME OF EMOTION...
...THESE FEELINGS APPEAR IN DIFFERENT KINDS AND VARIED INTENSITY AMONG DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
BUT IF WE ENTERED INTO OTHER HEARTS, IT WOULD BE LIKE PASSING INTO A CELLAR...
...DARK, DAMP, AND FORBIDDING.
IF WE COULD ENTER INTO SOME HEARTS, IT WOULD BE LIKE PASSING INTO A CATHEDRAL...
...EVERYTHING IS SO SWEET, REVERENT, AND BEAUTIFUL.
Growing Stronger, No. 3

2. Have we any responsibility for the character of the feelings in our heart?
Our Conscience causes us to understand that we are responsible for our feelings.
CONSCIENCE POINTS OUT OTHER FEELINGS AND APPROVES THEM.
HAS OUR CONSCIENCE ANY JUDGMENT TO GIVE CONCERNING OUR
FEELINGS?
WHAT CONSCIENCE CONDEMNS, I AM COMMANDED TO REMOVE.
UH-UH, PINOCCHIO! YOU SHOULDN’T BE THINKING HATEFUL STUFF LIKE THAT!
ALWAYS LET YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE!
ATTABOY, PINOCCHIO! LOVE--THAT’S THE WAY TO GO!
YES, CONSCIENCE POINTS OUT SOME FEELINGS AND CONDEMNS THEM.
WHAT CONSCIENCE APPROVES, I AM COMMANDED TO RECEIVE.

3. How, then, are feelings created? Upon what are they dependent?
CERTAIN THOUGHTS WILL INEVITABLY CREATE THE FEELING OF ENVY.
OTHER THOUGHTS WILL SPEEDILY SWELL THE HEART WITH PRIDE.
FROM EVERY THOUGHT PROCEEDS AN INFLUENCE THAT GOES TO THE MAKING OF A CHARACTER.
PEOPLE
SAY PATRICIA IS THE PRETTIEST GIRL IN THE TROUPE...
BUT EVERYONE SAYS I’M A MUCH BETTER DANCER...
UGH! THAT’S DISGUSTING...
MAYBE I SHOULD...
BUT THE INFLUENCE IS THERE AND STEALS LIKE A SUBTLE ODOUR INTO THE HEART THAT WE CALL A FEELING OR A MOOD.
THEY ARE LARGELY DEPENDENT UPON THOUGHT.
I WONDER IF...?
FILL THE MIND WITH ANOTHER KIND OF THOUGHT AND THE TENDER SENTIMENT OF PITY WILL GATHER IN THE HEART.
YET PATRICIA DOES HAVE AN AWFULLY SAD HOME LIFE.
EVERY THOUGHT CREATES A FEELING.
HMM... THAT’S NOT SUCH A GOOD IDEA...
A SINGLE THOUGHT MAY GIVE BUT A LITTLE INFLUENCE.
THAT WOULD BE GRAND.

4. Our thought creates our feelings.
God rewards our love by making us more loving. He rewards our deeds by enlarging our hearts.
BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL.
WHY?
FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY.
SUBSEQUENTLY,
OUR DEEDS STRENGTHEN THE FEELINGS THAT THOUGHT CREATED.
THE THOUGHT ITSELF WILL CREATE A KINDLY FEELING, BUT THE DEED WILL ALSO REINFORCE THE FEELING.
I WILL
INVITE HER TO HAVE DINNER WITH US.
SO KIND OF YE, MOIRA. THAT WAS A LOVELY TIME!
HMM ... I DO SUPPOSE THAT BEING KIND MAKES ME WANT TO BE EVEN KINDER!
A THOUGHT PLANS A KINDLY DEED.
AH, DON’T MENTION IT, PATRICIA.
BUT HOW IS IT THAT YE ARE ALWAYS SO KIND?
THEIR MERCIFUL DEEDS WILL REACT UPON THEM AND INCREASE THEIR RESOURCES OF MERCY.

5. What, then, is the secret to cultivating a godly Heart?
DO SO, AND YOUR FEELINGS WILL SOAR HEAVENWARD, LIKE WHITE- WINGED ANGELS MAKING THEIR WAY HOME.
SET YOUR AFFECTION ON THINGS ABOVE.
WHATSOEVER THINGS
ARE TRUE, HONEST, JUST, PURE, LOVELY, OF GOOD REPORT - IF THERE BE ANY VIRTUE, AND IF THERE BE ANY PRAISE, THINK ON THESE THINGS.
"THE THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE" WILL BECOME MORE AND MORE ENTRANCINGLY FAMILIAR TO US.
AND WE
WILL FIND IT AN INCREASING JOY TO GAZE UPON THEM.
APOSTLE PAUL EXHORTS:
BEAUTIFUL MUSIC
FAMILY
FLOWERS
SUNSET
FRIENDS
LOVE
JESUS
HEAVEN
ON THOSE SERENE AND LOFTY HEIGHTS, WE GAIN A SOUND AND HEALTHY HEART.
S&S link: Character Building: Personal Responsibility: Choice and decision-making-2b
Adapted from the writings of J. H. Jowett. Illustrations by Jeremy. Design by Stefan Merour.
Published on My Wonder Studio. Copyright © 2014 by The Family International.