HOW ARE YOUR ROOTS?

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines 
the course of your life.” ~ Proverbs 4:23

“Matters of the Heart” is a weekly blog that deals with the deepest issues of the human heart, the issues we all face but sometimes don’t want to talk about.
The heart is the programming center of our lives. What is programmed into our heart will affect every area of our lives. Learn how to examine your heart
and how to program your heart for success.

AN INVITATION TO YOU: To follow this blog, click here 

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ROOTS. We need them to grow. Where our roots are planted will determine how well we will grow.

Only roots planted in the love of God will flourish. Paul writes in Ephesians 3: 17, “Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.”

Are your roots anchored in God’s love? If not, why not? Has shame or sorrow or sin kept you from sinking your roots deep into God’s love? If so, let God help you push through that pain, for there is freedom on the other side. 

Growth begins in the roots. How are your roots? Sink them deep into God’s love, and you will know abundant life! 

I pray in Paul’s words for you today that God “from His glorious, unlimited resources…will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that come from God” (Ephesians 3: 16-19 NLT).

Now, it’s YOUR turn: How do you sink your roots into God’s love? Please leave your valued comment in the box below.

TWEETABLE:  “How Are Your Roots?” by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio (CLICK TO TWEET).

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The Italian Chronicles Trilogy is now available in its entirety. Will Maria Landro Tonetta allow God to turn the horrific sorrows of her life into great joy? Read this page-turning series to find out! Makes a great gift for any occasion!

 Book 1: The Madonna of Pisano    Book 2: A Sicilian Farewell    Book 3: Return to Bella Terra

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If you found this post helpful, please forward it to a friend. Thank you! You may also be interested in reading the following popular posts:

“Sex and Soul Ties”

“Don’t Let Satan Play Your Pipes”

“How to Recognize a Controlling Spirit”

Please check our archives in the right sidebar for older posts on a variety of topics. You may also search for a particular topic in the search box at the top right. 

For additional encouragement, check out my podcasts at the following links:

A Moment with MaryAnn – Podcasts on Living the Good Life

Winning with the Word Podcast Series

Write Your Heart Out! – Podcasts for Writers

Please tell your family and friends about this blog and my other resources, and please pass this post on to them. Thank you!

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Copyright 2018 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

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IS IT REPENTANCE OR FEAR OF GETTING CAUGHT?

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, Your Virtual Life Coach

Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.” ~ Proverbs 4: 23
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Facebook or would prefer to subscribe via a different venue, please check the sidebar
to the right for subscription options. Thank you!
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“I‘m sorry, Mommy!” Little Jake had been caught red-handed taking cookies from the cookie jar after his mother had told him not to.

Mommy looked him in the eye. “Jake, are you sorry because you hurt Jesus by disobeying me, or are you sorry because you got caught?”

Not one to lie, Jake responded, “I’m sorry because I got caught.”

What about us? When we sin, are we sorry because we have hurt the heart of God, or are we sorry because our sin got us into some kind of trouble? In other words, do we repent out of fear of the personal consequences of our sin, or do we repent out of love for our Heavenly Father Whom we have hurt by our sin? 

There is only one kind of sorrow that pleases God, and that is the sorrow that stems from love for Him, not from fear of personal consequences. David the Psalmist understood this when he penned these words in Psalm 51: 17: ” . . . a broken and contrite heart You, God, will not despise.”

Is our heart broken and contrite because of our sin? Or are we merely crying crocodile tears because we are suffering the negative consequences of our sin?

Human sorrow leads only to more sinning. Godly sorry comes from a broken heart that is aware it has hurt the heart of the Father. Only Godly sorrow is transformational because it stems from love for the Father and not from fear for ourselves. Only Godly sorrow is true repentance.

If you do not have Godly sorrow for your sin, do what I did. I asked God to show me what my sin looks like to Him and how it makes Him feel. When He showed me, I was appalled and understood what He meant when He said in Isaiah 64: 6 that “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” 

When we move from fear-based sorrow to love-based sorrow, we will understand what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote that “we are no longer slaves to sin” (Romans 6: 6). Instead, we will have become slaves to our Lord and Lover Whose precious heart we would never want to break.

Now it’s YOUR turn! How would you describe Godly sorrow? Describe a time when you experienced human sorrow or Godly sorrow. Please comment in the box below. Thanks! 

TWEETABLE: “Is It Repentance or Fear of Getting Caught?” by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio (CLICK TO TWEET)

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Please check out my heart-mending novel, THE MADONNA OF PISANO, for an example of true, Godly repentance.

 

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Book 1 in The Italian Chronicles Trilogy

“A young woman, a priest, and a secret that keeps them bitterly bound to each other….”

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A dynamic book that will help you overcome negative feelings about yourself and put you on the road to success in every area of your life. Using sound Biblical principles, nationally known author, life coach, and businesswoman, Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, deals with such life-changing topics as overcoming worry and fear, taking charge of your life, learning to accept yourself, and finding your purpose in life. YOU WERE MADE FOR GREATNESS! Offers practical advice which, if applied, guarantees success and will help you become all that God created you to be.

Available in e-book format.

CLICK HERE to purchase your copy now.

If you found this post helpful, please forward it to a friend or relative. Thank you!

Please check our archives in the right sidebar for older posts on a variety of topics. You may also search for a particular topic in the search box at the top right.

Some of our most popular posts:

Horoscopes? Ouija Boards? Séances? Are They Really Harmless?

Are You Afraid of Confrontation?

Sex and Soul Ties

How to Recognize a Controlling Spirit

 

For additional encouragement, check out my podcasts at the following links:

A Moment with MaryAnn – Podcasts on Living the Good Life

Winning with the Word Podcast Series

Write Your Heart Out! – Podcasts for Writers

NOTE: If you are struggling to know your purpose in life, I can help you! As a highly experienced Certified Life Coach, I will help you set priorities in line with your God-given purpose. For more information or to set up a phone appointment, please send me an email at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com. You’ll be taking a major step toward fulfilling your destiny!

Please tell your family and friends about this blog and please pass this post on to them. Thank you!
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Copyright 2001-2017 by Dr. Mary Ann Diorio. All Rights Reserved. 

Matters of the Heart is a weekly blog that deals with the deepest issues of the human heart, the issues we all face but sometimes don’t want to talk about. The heart is the programming center of our lives. What is programmed into our heart will affect every area of our lives. Learn how to discover what is in your heart and how to program your heart for success.

AN INVITATION TO YOU: To follow this blog via Facebook, click here. If you are not on Facebook or would prefer to subscribe via a different venue, please check the sidebar to the right for subscription options. Thank you!

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Copyright 2017 by MaryAnn Diorio, PhD, MFA.  All Rights Reserved.