? Keep Your Fire Burning Bright In Your Heart ?

[Bible Speaks]

Nothing Can “Separate Us From God’s Love” Keep your "fire burning bright in your heart!"

Satan is eager for us to believe that Jehovah God neither loves us nor values us. True, Satan often seduces people by appealing to their vanity and pride. (2 Corinthians 11:3) But he also delights in crushing the self-respect of vulnerable ones. (John 7:47-49; 8:13, 44) 

This is particularly so in these critical “last days.” Many today grow up in families where there is “no natural affection.” Others are constantly exposed to those who are fierce, selfish, and headstrong. (2 Timothy 3:1-5) 

Years of being subjected to ill-treatment, racism, or hatred may have convinced such ones that they are worthless or unlovable.
Jehovah also values our endurance. (Matthew 24:13) 

Remember, Satan wants you to turn your back on Jehovah. Each day that you remain loyal to Jehovah is another day that you have helped to furnish a reply to Satan’s taunts. (Proverbs 27:11) 

Sometimes endurance is no easy matter. Health problems, financial woes, emotionaldistress, and other obstacles can make each passing day a trial. Postponed expectations can prove discouraging too. (Proverbs 13:12) 

Endurance in the face of such challenges is all the more precious to Jehovah. That is why King David asked Jehovah to store up his tears in a “skin bottle,” adding confidently: “Are they not in your book?” (Psalm 56:8) 

Yes, Jehovah treasures up and remembers all the tears and suffering we endure while maintaining our loyalty to him. They too are precious in his eyes.

Jehovah searches through us, he carefully sifts, looking for the good. 

What about your good qualities and works? Ah, these are the “nuggets” he keeps! Have you ever noticed the way fond parents treasure their children’s drawings or school projects, sometimes for decades after the children have forgotten them? 

Jehovah is the fondest Parent. As long as we remain faithful to him, he never forgets our good works and qualities. In fact, he would view it as unrighteous to forget these, and he is never unrighteous. (Hebrews 6:10) 

He also sifts us in another way.
“With a love to time indefinite I have loved you. That is why I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”—Jeremiah 31:3.

Perhaps it is through the privilege of prayer that we experience Jehovah’s love in the most intimate way. The Bible invites each of us to “pray incessantly” to God. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) He listens. He is even called the “Hearer of prayer.” (Psalm 65:2) 

He has not delegated this office to anyone else, not even to his own Son. Just think: The Creator of the universe urges us to approach him in prayer, with freeness of speech. And what kind of listener is he? Cold, impassive, uncaring? Not at all.

Jehovah is empathetic. What is empathy? One faithful elderly Christian said: “Empathy is your pain in my heart.” Is Jehovah really affected by our pain? We read regarding the sufferings of his people Israel: “During all their distress it was distressing to him.” (Isaiah 63:9) 

Not only did Jehovah see their troubles; he felt for the people. Just how intensely he feels is illustrated by Jehovah’s own words to his servants: “He that is touching you is touching my eyeball.”*(Zechariah 2:8) How painful that would be! Yes, Jehovah feels for us. When we hurt, he hurts.

Is Jehovah’s message close to my heart like “a burning fire shut up in my bones,” moving me to share in the Kingdom-preaching and disciple-making work? (Jeremiah 20:9; Matthew 28:19, 20)

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[John Lindsay Barltrop]

......We read regarding the sufferings of his people Israel: “During all their distress it was distressing to him.” (Isaiah 63:9)........

When we consider the ancient Nation of Israel, it certainly shows us how forgiving Jehovah can be, they must have really caused him grief. Here they were, they had witnessed the ten plagues, they were delivered from the hands of the Egyptians, they were part of the miracle of crossing the red Sea..........they had been part of all that and only a short time after they convinced Aaron to build a golden calf that they could worship...........in a question from readers in the WT it made the point: "Moses thereafter told the people: “You have sinned with a great sin.”" (Ex. 32:30) Thus, Aaron was not the only one who bore a measure of guilt for the wrongdoing. Both he and the people benefited from Jehovah’s great mercy.".........Aaron caved into the pressure of those that wanted the golden calf

That was only one example........we know there are many more that show us that they just did not want to listen to the creator most of the time (Ex 34:8, 9; Ne 9:16, 17; Jeremiah 7:21-26; Ezekiel 3:7) and through all this Jehovah showed them love, patience and long suffering (just to mention a couple of Jehovah's attributes)..............What a marvellous God we worship.
 

[Queen Esther]