“With Jesus in her heart and Coffee in her hand , she is unstoppable”. This was written on a beautiful T-shirt, worn by a lady I met recently. I was drawn to that inscription, so much that I almost missed the information she was trying to pass on to everyone as she held the microphone at a gathering, where I met her for the first time .
As a result of the inscription on her T-shirt, I learnt some amazing lessons that I probably would not have paid so much attention to, had I not seen those words beautifully printed out on that T-shirt.
One lesson I learnt is that at salvation, God does not change our hands or legs, what He changes is what will eventually control what comes into our hands or what we do with our hands, and also that which instructs our legs in the way to go.What God changes is our hearts.
EZEKIEL 36:26
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
God’s interest in our hearts being connected to Him, does not mean we cannot have any other thing we love. This implies that my love for God does not deprive me of the delicious and interesting things I love, as long as these things are not sinful, or detrimental to my Spiritual or physical well being.
In my Country, Coffee is really not a big deal, considering the weather condition and choice of sumptuous traditional meals available, that mostly require no Coffee or Tea. You hardly hear anyone give so much credit to Coffee as they do in the part of the world where the beautiful woman with the lovely T- shirt hails from.
We all have things that inspire, and motivate us from the inside and also on the outside. God works through our minds, but give us the privilege to choose what can physically inspire us or keep us going as well, which is the reason some turn to drugs, alcohol,and abuse of some substances, all in a bid to be motivated or inspired.
If what inspires us on the inside( our heart) is truly godly, it will be impossible to consider embracing a physical motivation that is ungodly or questionable. This explains the reason it is important we are willing to allow God search our hearts at all times, to ensure we do not fall into the trap of holding on to the ways or pattern of life we are supposed to let go of, having become saved.
PSALM 139:23
“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;”
The truth is, Caffeine can be addictive, but it also has several health benefits if taken in moderation and this is what I believe is the case with the beautiful lady I met, whose love for Coffee was not hidden from all that cared to pay attention to her T -shirt.
What was in her heart was stated first, which is as a result of the fact that it mattered more to her than what followed. Else, the phrase would have been something like ” With coffee in my hand , I am unstoppable.” It would not have being about Jesus being in her heart at all, how much more, He coming first in the sentence.
In her case, it is not primarily about the Coffee, but the One that keeps her heart guided and guarded by His love- Jesus Christ. For me, it is my lemon infused water in a beautiful blue bottle. This sweetheart has become a really close friend that keeps me awake, even when I know my body is ready to travel far in sleep.
Talking about the use of Coffee, for some people, it is a way to start the day well and strong, for some other people , it is just a sweetheart they grew up loving, for others it’s a way to keep warm. Why then would a Loving Father take such away from His lovelies if there is no need for that? Hence, the reason some of us can consume such, but of course in moderation, like every other good and acceptable thing as well.
PROVERBS 26:16
“Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, Lest you be filled with it and vomit.”
Also, Jesus being in the heart of a person, does not stop him or her from having things that can motivate or be beneficial to their health or considered necessary for growth. Neither does His presence in our hearts stop our hands from holding what motivates us or inspires us to want to do more, in a bid to attain greater heights. What is important is that His presence in our heart is what controls what inspires us ultimately.
1 CORINTHIANS 6:12 -13
“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them…..”
There are some other sources of physical motivation that are however considered Spiritually, Physically and mentally detrimental to its consumers. The use of such things is a function of the state of the heart of the user, and no matter how anyone else sees it, such a person believes such things are somehow beneficial to him or her, considering that those things also motivate its users or consumers.
JEREMIAH 17:9-10
“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked;Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.”
I have met at least 3 people in my life time whose abuse of drugs or other substances led to the death of 2 of them, and a near to death experience of the third one.
This explains the reason a Caring Father will not encourage His children to be involved in the use of such things. The truth however is that a heart that Jesus does not control cares less about what the hands hold, or where the legs lead. All that matters to such a heart is what satisfies anyhow and in anyway.
Can you boldly stand before God, wearing a T-shirt with the inscription “ With Jesus in my heart, and ——- in my hand I am unstoppable”? When you stand before Him and the gap above is filled with words, what will the word(s) be?
Author Profile
- Temitope is the founder of thesoulmeal.com, an online platform that she shares with her God-given spiritual family and friends. She is a speaker, teacher and youth counselor. She is passionate about inspiring people to find their identity in Christ. Catch her interviewing inspiring leaders on Tongue of the Learned Podcast
Latest Posts
Growing In ChristMay 10, 2021Pay Attention To This Season
FaithJanuary 26, 2021His Word, My Hope.
FaithJanuary 14, 2021Caught In The Web Of The Devil’s Lie?
FaithJanuary 5, 2021Look Beyond The Package
Amazing and inspiring… *God’s interest in our hearts being connected to Him, does not mean we cannot have any other thing we love. This implies that my love for God does not deprive me of the delicious and interesting things I love, as long as these things are not sinful, or detrimental to my Spiritual or physical well being.* …
This got me
Glad you find it useful.