13th Day : When is the heart distant from God?

Hello to all those who are participating in the Fast!

Today is the 13th Day and the question for today is: “When is the heart distant from God?”

Accompany me in the book of Matthew, chapter 15, verse 7:

“You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, “Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

Cybernaut, who are these hypocrites? A hypocrite is someone who knows how to answer, to interpret the law; they know how to “camouflage”, in other words, give a certain appearance to hide what is inside of them. They pretend they don’t see, don’t hear, don’t feel… That is a hypocrite!

When Jesus says:

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me…’
(Matthew 15: 8)

Many are in this 21 Day Fast, but with their hearts distant from God! They speak with God like this; for example: “Oh God… The Lord is everything to me! I love you, adore you, baptize me with the Holy Spirit…” It looks like they are making a song while they’re praying…. Apparently they are honoring God; that they are being grateful and really do recognize His Sovereignty, but in reality, their heart is far away! And how can I say this? How do the lips say something while the heart is far away? It is because your soul, your mind, where your thoughts come from, your desires, they are not with God. And the truth is that you don’t even empty yourself… You don’t even know yourself! You don’t say how you are, you don’t refer to your injustice! You only praise and praise God… You say He is everything, Sovereign, that He is your refuge, your strength…

I’m sorry cybernaut and member that is accompanying this post through my Blog, but I have already heard people speaking to God, and it has agonized me! And they were in church!

And you ask me: “But Viviane, how can you be agonized with someone that praises and speaks with God?” I feel agony because of what is written:

“‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,…”
(Matthew 15: 8)

And how do I know that they honor with their lips, but their heart is far away from God? It is because of they way they speak, how they express themselves… there is no truth. When I say something to my husband, or someone else, something true, I am not superficial! I don’t say: “You are everything to me Júlio… you are sovereign, and this and that…” At first, I recognize my state and then I go before him and say, “Júlio, Mimiu, I love you! Mimiu, you are so handsome! So detailed… I love the way you are!” How do I say this? I say this thinking while I am speaking and I recognize what he gives me. I see how he treats me and the way I am with him… And because I am doing this, my praise is true. But if  deep, deep, deep inside yourself, this doesn’t exist, then it’s not natural. And then you give praise that isn’t natural. And you end up praising what isn’t natural to you when you see it in someone else.

Now imagine God! I can read Psalms and say the exact same words as king David, to Him, but it doesn’t mean that I am honoring Him… Honoring Him is when there is sincerity on my part. Many do this type of prayer, of praising God, but their heart is far away from Him. You probably are wanting to ask me, “But Viviane, what do you mean by saying this? That my heart is far way… That when I am speaking with God, searching for words of gratitude for Him to fill me up with the Holy Spirit, that I am not being real…”

It’s not the pretty words that you say that are going to call His attention, it is when you empty yourself.

Look at what He says:

“And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”
(Matthew 15: 9)

There are many pastor’s wives, assistants, pastors even… members, evangelists, youths from the youth group, that keep saying: “Oh God, I love you…” And they speak to others with their mouth full! “You have to guard your heart…” The words of these people give me anxiety, nausea… Why?! Because they are religious words and they even use the Word of God, but they use it systematically… They are not close with God. And the proof? The proof is how they live their faith with God. Don’t feel wronged with your imperfections, sometimes, you don’t even know you are being unjust… You think you are perfect, a good person, you feel like an “invalid” when someone speaks of your imperfections. You teach the doctrines but you are far from God!

“When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, ‘Hear and understand…”
(Matthew 15:10)

You don’t have to have knowledge, cybernaut. We aren’t speaking here right now, so that you know how to manage the Word of God, so that you are “powerful” and that others have to submit to you because you know how to interpret the Word of God. This is not what we are trying to do! We write here so that you read and understand! Those who understand, practice; they observe themselves – they look within! “Hear and understand…” It means, that it’s not for anyone else, it is for me! The Word of God is for me!

“…Not what goes into the mouth defiles man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
(Matthew 15:11)

You say to God: “The Lord is wonderful! You are my refuge, here I am! Take my life!” After that prayer, that emotional moment ends with the ending of the instrumental music in the background… you forget everything and even of God! Your emotions start coming and you forget that you have to look with good eyes, that you have to guard your soul, that you have to watch your thoughts… You completely forget! You look at others and say, “You have to change!” You say one thing to God, and teach others, and it’s a whole other story when it comes to you as a person.

Truthfully, cybernaut, I am going to say something very serious… Imagine that you are a mistress, or a prostitute, I am sorry for being so frank, but imagine yourself in the position of a prostitute,  and you do things to ensnare your client, so that you can gain more and more money. There are many people that do that! They want to trick God! With things, with words, with “blah, blah, blah,” when in reality they live a life distant from God… If you really want to change, then you are going to have to let go of that prostitution, your life, because you are the one that has to convert. It is not God that does this! He doesn’t “touch you” and you instantly convert. The Holy Spirit convinces you, but it is your responsibility to take an attitude! You have to hone your listening and understanding.

That is why I get nauseous and feel like vomiting, sorry but that’s the truth! This happens when I see words that are not truthful. And you interrogate me: “How can you prove this?!” I say this because the mouth speaks what it is full of inside; it is very easy to see when there is gratitude, or if it is just theory. You are conscious of God and the words that need to be said… sometimes you even copy Psalms or what the Pastor says, when in reality, you don’t say anything that is actually inside of you. You can say, “But Viviane, I don’t know how to pray, I don’t know how to search for God!”

Who said there was only one way to speak? The only thing God wants from you is your sincerity! If you go to God and say: “Look God! Here, everyone is praying, praising you, but I don’t know you! I cannot even see myself… I see some things, but I don’t feel that I am unjust and I want to see my error. I want to search for You; I don’t want to be like that “prostitute” that just is all fluff, I don’t want this! I don’t to live this illusion! I want the Lord, I need the truth: if I have acted like a “prostitute” before you my God, saying and doing things that hurt you. I want to change, but I need to see it! “So and so” says that I am proud, but I don’t see myself as prideful! I feel offended and get angry… I know that I shouldn’t get angry, but I continue feeling this way, and when I look at her, I get impatient, I avoid them, and try to get revenge. This is happening with me right now! I don’t want this anymore! I have heard about you and everything that needs to be says, and it is of these attitudes that I have noticed in myself that are wrong!”

My cybernaut friend, when I speak like this, this is a heart that is close to God! You are letting yourself be known, and you say what is going on inside of you! You don’t say fanciful words to fantasize, or ilude, you are saying what is real. You want to speak the truth to God! When you open your mouth and say, “God you are my everything!” You are “naked”, and you see your misery, your sins, you see yourself as condemned to hell. But you see the Love of God, His patience… Now you can truthfully adore Him, not with “commandments of men”… But how and who He is to you!

I really want you to get to know Him! I really want you to be sincere with Him! Because the most beautiful thing that you could ever find in this world is Jesus. To find Him and be baptized with the Holy Spirit, there has to ve necessity, you need to see yourself needing to search and finding who you have really been.

Now you can understand when Jesus speaks:

“Come to me, all who are weary…” (Matthew 11:28)

Normally, you come when you have problems. Family, love life, economic problems… And who have you been? Are you really willing to come before God? Think about this!

Leave your comment below.
Separate some time today, and speak to God. Empty yourself and you will see how marvelous and wonderful the Presence of God is when you put yourself in your place

A big hug to you all. Tomorrow we will be back!