The Heart Factor featuring Vanessa Werts
Note from The Publisher:
One of my goals for this website in 2018 was to develop more content in the areas of : Health and Wellness” and “Relationships.” “The Heart Factor” was developed to help you, and to help you help others. This column is about accountability. This column is about healing. This column is about relationships. The column is about the heart! As a result, I am very proud to present “The Heart Factor,” featuring author Vanessa Werts. Vanessa speaks to men and women in a way that’s “hearable.” To quote Vanessa, “No one escapes getting hurt in this life. There are so many unavoidable issues that break the heart such as emotional, mental and physical abuse; abandonment and rejection; a lack of hope from unfulfilled desires; loss and grief; being unhappy with one’s physical attributes, and the list goes on.”
Enjoy “The Heart Factor” and the “30-Day Heart Cleanse” – Gary Johnson, Publisher – Black Men In America.com
Day 28: Worship God!
You were created for worship. Your heartbeat is the percussion, your vocal cords are the strings, and your voice is the wind instrument. (Oh, yes!) Worship is a position of the heart. It is where your heart bows before the Master. Thankful, grateful and undone in His presence. He can work with a heart like that. Worship solves the matter…whatever the matter is. Leave your troubles at His feet and exalt Him above your cares. Worship God!
Today’s Activation: Find a quiet place and spend time with your Father. Tell Him how good He is to you and be thankful.
16-17Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.
Psalm 51:16-17 MSG
Wisdom for Your Journey
Purposely love, purposely forgive, purposely celebrate your life. Be diligent to do the purposeful things as a son or daughter of the King. You are royalty seated in heavenly places. Pull your thoughts and living up to this place.
Rule and reign in your life and on earth. Speak those things that do not exist as though they were. Believe in God. Trust Him with your life. Move when He says move. Be still when He says not yet.
Set your sights on winning. Refuse to be defeated. When you fall down, get back up. Try again. Let the beat of your heart and functioning of your body be proof and approval that God has work for you to do.
Days 27: You Have Help
God did not create you, bless you, and gift you just to leave you to figure out life on your own. We have a Helper – the Holy Spirit. He intercedes for you, praying to the Father on your behalf; he tells you of things to come. AND, Jesus is your guide, leading you in the way you should go. Did you know he prayed for you before you were born? They both know God’s plan for your life. They know and speak the truth about you. Truth trumps facts and emotions. So, if you listen and follow them, you can’t go wrong.
Today’s Activation: Ask Jesus to help you with a specific issue, and trust that you will receive the answer.
26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
Romans 8:26-27 NLT
Day 26: Pursue Peace Always
Peace is a heavenly gift. It is not natural to be at peace in a chaotic world where things happen daily that cause emotional instability. We must pursue peace; it does not come easily. You can have it this morning, and by lunchtime, your emotions are leading the way. When you find that place of peace for your life, don’t let go of it. Peace is worth more than rubies and gold when you train your heart to let it rule.
Today’s Activation: Practice peace. Don’t allow anything to rattle you today. Trust God. He’s got you!
7 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].
Day 25: Faith Neutralizes Fear
Fear is a bully. It is at the root of your stress. You must eradicate it from your life. Fear will stop you from being you, trying new things; from believing, from hoping, from praying. Your faith will stop the harmful effects of stress on your health and your thoughts. If the resolution to the problem is out of your control, stop troubling your heart. Fix what you can and pray about the rest.
Today’s Activation: List the things that you stress about. Then ask yourself ‘why’ it’s an issue. Ask God to help you and believe that He will. Repeat.
7For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
Day 24: Ready…Set…Activate!
What would you do if you knew you could not fail? What is stopping you? Don’t let these two get in your way: fear and time. War against them with faith. Speak faith. You CAN do it. Believe in yourself and trust God. Don’t talk yourself out of it (whatever ‘it’ is). Time is in God’s hand. He created it. He is eternal and unbound by your age. He is the Redeemer of time.
Today’s Activation: Take the next step in faith. God has prepared you with everything you need to activate your gifts, talents and abilities.
Additional Commentary: We all have to start somewhere. So, what is your next step? Ask yourself:
1.What breaks my heart when I hear about it?
- What pulls at my heart strings to the point I want to defend the defenseless?
- What cause would I give of my time, energy, and money to see a person’s life change for the better?
Get involved. Make a phone call. Lend a helping hand. Feed the homeless. Start a blog. Start your own business. Partner with another business. Apply for that job. Take a step today and activate your gifts and your faith!
Day 23: Wisdom and Understanding
Embrace the process. When you have a: dream, vision, call, talent, ability, gift, there is a process involved to help you develop and mature. Strategies are realized and confidence is established in the process. The wisdom of God will help you navigate the process as you grow in understanding.
Today’s Activation: Ask God what industry, people or group you’re called to serve with your gifts and talents.
Additional Commentary: Wisdom and understanding work together. It makes a difference when a Believer owns a business or works for a company. You bring the kingdom of God with you wherever you show up!
10 When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, 11Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you…Proverbs 2:10-11 NKJV
Day 15: What are Your Gifts?
Knowing your God-given gift(s) is essential for walking in your God-given purpose. They are part of your make-up; given to you by God as a gift to serve others. The seven (7) God-given gifts are: gift of prophecy, ministry (service), teaching, encourage, giving, leading, showing mercy. Each one of us has a gift or gifts to give. It’s true!
Today’s Activation: How has God used you past and present to touch lives, to uplift family, friends, co-workers, a stranger? Make a note of your gift.
6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them accordingly: if [someone has the gift of] prophecy, [let him speak a new message from God to His people] in proportion to the faith possessed;7 if service, in the act of serving; or he who teaches, in the act of teaching;8 or he who encourages, in the act of encouragement; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy [in caring for others], with cheerfulness.
Romans 12:6-8 AMP
Day 16: What are Your Talents and Abilities?
You have God-given gifts, and talents & abilities. We all have a purpose designed for service. When you show up in a room, your gifts show up too! Your talents and abilities get you noticed. Don’t hide them. Don’t shrink back. The world is waiting for you to share who you are. Your family needs you to share who you are. What can you do that comes naturally? What are you great at (baking, writing, making people laugh, organizing, mentoring, doing hair, doing makeup, creating new things)?
Today’s Activation: Understand what your talents and unique abilities are and start pursuing them.
Additional Commentary: Celebrate your life! Your gifts, talents and abilities are what you’re about. Show up at the table and in the rooms that open to you and be great!
WEEK 1 – FORGIVE
Day1: Forgive Yourself
Forgive yourself for: mistakes you’ve made, keeping secrets, poor decisions, failed relationships letting fear stop you, contemplating suicide, quitting too soon…
Additional Commentary: Forgive yourself. Let yourself off the hook. No more regrets. No more vendettas against yourself. Your soul needs you to forgive you. We’re moving forward in 2018. It’s time to heal.
20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
1 John 3:20
Day 2: Forgive Your Parents
Your parents did the best they knew how. Parents can have a broken heart too. And broken hearts break hearts. Forgive them for not being there; for calling you out of your name; for favoring another sibling over you; for abandoning you; for rejecting you; for not protecting you or standing up for you. Forgive them for breaking your heart and all the things you hold against them.
Additional Commentary: Most of us will never fully know our parents’ lives. We don’t know all they experienced in their first 20-30 years. We don’t have all the facts. Life had already dealt them so pretty hard blows before you came on the scene. Just forgive them and free your heat. Pray for their healing and honor them.
Day 3: The Truth About Lies
- Time does not heal all wounds. Without caring for the wound, time just passes and infection sets in.
- Sticks and stones may break your bones AND words do hurt. They beat-up the heart.
- Don’t follow your heart. If it is broken, fearful, insecure…it will lead you wrong. Follow Jesus.
Additional Commentary: Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but the lords directs his steps (see Proverbs 16:9). When you ask Jesus to come into your heart, trust his lead; follow him.
Day 4: Forgive People Unrelated to You
Forgive your friends, acquaintances, co-workers, supervisors, church members, neighbors, bullies, dream killers, teachers, customer service representatives… Folks unrelated to you that hurt or disrespected you at any point in your life.
Today’s Activation: If you owe someone an apology, today is a great day to make it happen. You can do it. Free your conscience and your heart.
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” – Jesus Matthew 6:14-15
Day 5: Forgive Your Relatives
Bloodline is bloodline. For reasons we do not know, God chose them for you. Maybe you are the one to break generational curses. Maybe you are the one to introduce love and understanding; the catalyst for change, to usher in a new era of breakthrough and blessing for your kindred. Be a forerunner in your family. Set the precedence for generations to come. Forgive Just forgive…
Additional Commentary: Forgive your siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and children. God knew the perfect family to place you in. These lovelies are your motivators and inspiration. Their lives remind you of what not to do, how not to be and also provides examples to emulate and believe that anything is possible.
Day 6: Forgive Men/Women in Past Romantic Relationships
Unlike bloodline relationships, we choose who we soul-tie ourselves to. The heart-break from toxic romance must be healed. Otherwise new love – the right love – will suffer. Forgive the ones that broke your heart, and refuse to dishonor yourself as you move forward. Dishonor is not a kingdom principle.
Leave your man and woman baggage in 2017. God has something new for you this year! Do you not perceive it?
18 “Do not remember the former things, Or ponder the things of the past. 19 “Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:18-19
Day 7:
Anyone that wasn’t part of your journey, isn’t necessary for your destiny. Let go of regrets and grudges. Hello Beautiful! You made it without them. Now…live!
Day 8: Love is Patient
God is not surprised that you’re waiting. Patience is about waiting (without attitude) for God’s divine timing to bring things about in your life. Don’t let frustration and anxiety play games with your heart. Frustration and anxiety will lead you to have safety nets and a plan B. (Watch out for this.) Your life is on God’s timetable. Glean the lessons from where you are now. God loves you and plans to prosper you; to give you hope and a future. Trust Him and be patient with yourself.
Today’s Activation: If you’re considering an alternative option just in case God doesn’t come through for you, ask God to help you wait for Him.
16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. Psalms 139: 16 NLT
Additional Commentary: Every day of your life was planned by God since the beginning of time. If there is a delay in things happening, be patient. He knows what He’s doing. You are always on His mind. Pray and wait and watch for His hand, moving in your life.
Day 9: Love is Kind
Be kind to yourself today. Say kind things to yourself. You are wonderful and unique. You are exactly what God wanted when He created you. Too often negative words are spoken to us by those we love and even strangers. How easy it is for the world then to try and define us. So, today, choke out the negative things by speaking kind words to yourself.
Today’s Activation: Do something for yourself that makes you smile. Treat your wonderful one-of-a-kind self, good today – all day long!
Additional Commentary: Love is patient. Love is kind… The heart cleanse is about your heart. Your soul needs to know that you love yourself. From there, you will know how to love others. Be good to yourself today.
More Revelation:
Stress is about fear … fear of the unknown.
Faith is about trusting God with the unknown.
Fear is at the root of your anxiety, panic, stress and depression (non-clinical).
It’s not about stress management it is about “self” management: cleansing the heart, renewing the mind, and trusting God.
25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.
Proverbs 12:25 NKJV
Check out our Home page on Sunday, for Next Week’s Topic: “Pursue Love” featuring a New Video from Vanessa Werts
Scroll Down To The Comments Section and Tell Us What You Think
Day 8: Love is Patient
God is not surprised that you’re waiting. Patience is about waiting (without attitude) for God’s divine timing to bring things about in your life. Don’t let frustration and anxiety play games with your heart. Frustration and anxiety will lead you to have safety nets and a plan B. (Watch out for this.) Your life is on God’s timetable. Glean the lessons from where you are now. God loves you and plans to prosper you; to give you hope and a future. Trust Him and be patient with yourself.
Today’s Activation: If you’re considering an alternative option just in case God doesn’t come through for you, ask God to help you wait for Him.
16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. Psalms 139: 16 NLT
Additional Commentary: Every day of your life was planned by God since the beginning of time. If there is a delay in things happening, be patient. He knows what He’s doing. You are always on His mind. Pray and wait and watch for His hand, moving in your life.
Day 9: Love is Kind
Be kind to yourself today. Say kind things to yourself. You are wonderful and unique. You are exactly what God wanted when He created you. Too often negative words are spoken to us by those we love and even strangers. How easy it is for the world then to try and define us. So, today, choke out the negative things by speaking kind words to yourself.
Today’s Activation: Do something for yourself that makes you smile. Treat your wonderful one-of-a-kind self, good today – all day long!
Additional Commentary: Love is patient. Love is kind… The heart cleanse is about your heart. Your soul needs to know that you love yourself. From there, you will know how to love others. Be good to yourself today.
More Revelation:
Stress is about fear … fear of the unknown.
Faith is about trusting God with the unknown.
Fear is at the root of your anxiety, panic, stress and depression (non-clinical).
It’s not about stress management it is about “self” management: cleansing the heart, renewing the mind, and trusting God.
25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.
Proverbs 12:25 NKJV
Day 10: Love Doesn’t Demand Its Own Way
Forgiving heals the heart; love trains it. Today, it’s time to show an act of love. The heart loves to give love. Push past the need to be “right,” and validate someone instead. Let love expand and soften your heart today.
Today’s Activation: Carry out a radical act of love today. Be creative! Encourage someone; feed the homeless, call an old friend and make their day. Speak more gently to your kids and/or mate. You get the picture. Put a smile on someone else’s face day.
13A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 15:13 NLT
Additional Commentary: Love does not demand its own way; it does not dishonor others. Honor someone today. Put a smile on their face.
**********
Day 11: Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs
Tough love. What is it? Who can define it? How far will it go? Does it ever show mercy? Does it become tender love at any point? Train, teach, lead, set boundaries. But, be careful of “tough loving” yourself and others. The receiving heart doesn’t know what to do with it. God didn’t give instructions for it.
Today’s Activation: Destroy the record of wrongs you hold against yourself today. Yes, forgive. Also, take an act to destroy the record of wrongs you hold against someone close to you.
10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
1 Peter 5:10 NLT
Day 12: Love Rejoices with the Truth
Winning Matters. There is a path set before you called destiny. The goal is to reach it and win. You have no competitors, yet there is training involved. Your heart must be conditioned (and positioned) so that you run well. Don’t let disappointment and discouragement, sorrow, and unmet desires of the heart get you off track. Be encouraged today! Do the heart cleansing work while you wait for God to reveal the next leg of your journey. Arise and shine! Stir up your zeal and run to win!
Today’s Activation: Give your troubles, sorrow, and waning hope to God, and, trust His process.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run [their very best to win], but only one receives the prize? Run [your race] in such a way that you may seize the prize and make it yours!
1 Corinthians 9:24 AMP
More Revelation:
The words one speaks give sound to the tune playing in their heart. How one behaves is merely the heart performing.
34…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. – Jesus
Matthew 12:34 NKJV
Day 13: Love Endures All Things
What is love? Radical Acceptance. Every heart wants to be handled this way. What love is not? Manipulation and control; tactics that attempt to own and chain a heart. Walk in love. But know the difference. Your destiny depends on it.
Today’s Activation: Speak life-giving words to a struggling relationship (marriage, children, parents, a friend…). If God leads, reach out and break the ice. Be a conduit of love.
**********
Day 14: Relax and Reflect
In search of your soul mate? Jesus is the soulmate your heart is longing for.
#loveundernewmanagement #relationshipgoals
As the deer pants [longingly] for the water brooks, So my soul pants [longingly] for You, O God.
Psalm 42:1 AMP
Day 15: What are Your Gifts?
Knowing your God-given gift(s) is essential for walking in your God-given purpose. They are part of your make-up; given to you by God as a gift to serve others. The seven (7) God-given gifts are: gift of prophecy, ministry (service), teaching, encourage, giving, leading, showing mercy. Each one of us has a gift or gifts to give. It’s true!
Today’s Activation: How has God used you past and present to touch lives, to uplift family, friends, co-workers, a stranger? Make a note of your gift.
6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them accordingly: if [someone has the gift of] prophecy, [let him speak a new message from God to His people] in proportion to the faith possessed;7 if service, in the act of serving; or he who teaches, in the act of teaching;8 or he who encourages, in the act of encouragement; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy [in caring for others], with cheerfulness.
Romans 12:6-8 AMP
Day 16: What are Your Talents and Abilities?
You have God-given gifts, and talents & abilities. We all have a purpose designed for service. When you show up in a room, your gifts show up too! Your talents and abilities get you noticed. Don’t hide them. Don’t shrink back. The world is waiting for you to share who you are. Your family needs you to share who you are. What can you do that comes naturally? What are you great at (baking, writing, making people laugh, organizing, mentoring, doing hair, doing makeup, creating new things)?
Today’s Activation: Understand what your talents and unique abilities are and start pursuing them.
Additional Commentary: Celebrate your life! Your gifts, talents and abilities are what you’re about. Show up at the table and in the rooms that open to you and be great!
Day 17: Settle in To Your Life
The best day of your life happened when you asked Jesus to come into your heart! You didn’t choose Him. He chose you! Now, settle in to your life. God has your life planned out. No need to chase down people, promotion, or success. These blessings spring up along the path of your life as you are aligned with God’s purpose for creating you. Share your gifts and talents. Doing so will lead to divine connections, resources, encounters, purpose, and good success.
Today’s Activation: Ask God for opportunities to share your gifts. Bless a life before midnight.
Additional Commentary: If you believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, say so! Welcome to your new, abundant life!
Day 18: Celebrate Your Achievements
Pat yourself on the back. What have you accomplished that “you” haven’t acknowledged the sacrifice, strength, tenacity, and endurance it took to achieve? It could be education, raising a child, promotion, retirement, adapting to military life, being a veteran, running a marathon, starting a business, breaking through the walls of fear, writing a book, celibacy, self-control, etc. This is a day of celebration, and you are the guest of honor!
Today’s Activation
Day 19: Laughter is Medicine
Loss is traumatic for the heart. Grief, when it lingers too long, makes the heart heavy. Losing a loved one, a close relationship, divorce; losing your home, a job, a business…are experiences of loss that can make it hard to be joyful. But there is a cure. Something that you can do to help you break through: Laughter.
Today’s activation: Laugh. However you get it done, keep the laughter going today.
22 A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 AMP
Additional Commentary: If you know someone who makes you laugh, give them a call. Maybe you have a TV show that keeps you in stitches. Or perhaps you are the funniest person you know. Whichever way you get it done, keep the laughter going today.
Day 20 & 21: Pay it Forward
What have you overcome? What have you struggles with and won the battle? Someone else’s hope can be renewed when they hear your story and see you standing strong. Share your testimony. Pay it forward.
Today’s Activation: Share with someone how Jesus brought you through and gave you victory!
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Revelation 12:11 NKJV
Missed Week #1?: Click Here To Visit The Archives Page
Day 14: Relax and Reflect
In search of your soul mate? Jesus is the soulmate your heart is longing for. #loveundernewmanagement #relationshipgoals
As the deer pants [longingly] for the water brooks, So my soul pants [longingly] for You, O God.
Psalm 42:1 AMP
Day 13: Love Endures All Things
What is love? Radical Acceptance. Every heart wants to be handled this way. What love is not? Manipulation and control; tactics that attempt to own and chain a heart. Walk in love. But know the difference. Your destiny depends on it,
Today’s Activation: Speak life-giving words to a struggling relationship (marriage, children, parents, a friend…). If God leads, reach out and break the ice. Be a conduit of love.
Day 12: Love Rejoices with the Truth
Winning Matters. There is a path set before you called destiny. The goal is to reach it and win. You have no competitors, yet there is training involved. Your heart must be conditioned (and positioned) so that you run well. Don’t let disappointment and discouragement, sorrow, and unmet desires of the heart get you off track. Be encouraged today! Do the heart cleansing work while you wait for God to reveal the next leg of your journey. Arise and shine! Stir up your zeal and run to win!
Today’s Activation: Give your troubles, sorrow, and waning hope to God, and, trust His process.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run [their very best to win], but only one receives the prize? Run [your race] in such a way that you may seize the prize and make it yours!
1 Corinthians 9:24 AMP
More Revelation:
The words one speaks give sound to the tune playing in their heart. How one behaves is merely the heart performing.
34…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. – Jesus
Matthew 12:34 NKJV
Day 11: Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs
Tough love. What is it? Who can define it? How far will it go? Does it ever show mercy? Does it become tender love at any point? Train, teach, lead, set boundaries. But, be careful of “tough loving” yourself and others. The receiving heart doesn’t know what to do with it. God didn’t give instructions for it.
Today’s Activation: Destroy the record of wrongs you hold against yourself today. Yes, forgive. Also, take an act to destroy the record of wrongs you hold against someone close to you.
10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
1 Peter 5:10 NLT
Day 10: Love Doesn’t Demand Its Own Way
Forgiving heals the heart; love trains it. Today, it’s time to show an act of love. The heart loves to give love. Push past the need to be “right,” and validate someone instead. Let love expand and soften your heart today.
Today’s Activation: Carry out a radical act of love today. Be creative! Encourage someone; feed the homeless, call an old friend and make their day. Speak more gently to your kids and/or mate. You get the picture. Put a smile on someone else’s face day.
13A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 15:13 NLT
Additional Commentary: Love does not demand its own way; it does not dishonor others. Honor someone today. Put a smile on their face.
Day 9: Love is Kind
Be kind to yourself today. Say kind things to yourself. You are wonderful and unique. You are exactly what God wanted when He created you. Too often negative words are spoken to us by those we love and even strangers. How easy it is for the world then to try and define us. So, today, choke out the negative things by speaking kind words to yourself.
Today’s Activation: Do something for yourself that makes you smile. Treat your wonderful one-of-a-kind self, good today – all day long!
Additional Commentary: Love is patient. Love is kind… The heart cleanse is about your heart. Your soul needs to know that you love yourself. From there, you will know how to love others. Be good to yourself today.
More Revelation:
Stress is about fear … fear of the unknown.
Faith is about trusting God with the unknown.
Fear is at the root of your anxiety, panic, stress and depression (non-clinical).
It’s not about stress management it is about “self” management: cleansing the heart, renewing the mind, and trusting God.
25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.
Proverbs 12:25 NKJV
Day 8: Love is Patient
God is not surprised that you’re waiting. Patience is about waiting (without attitude) for God’s divine timing to bring things about in your life. Don’t let frustration and anxiety play games with your heart. Frustration and anxiety will lead you to have safety nets and a plan B. (Watch out for this.) Your life is on God’s timetable. Glean the lessons from where you are now. God loves you and plans to prosper you; to give you hope and a future. Trust Him and be patient with yourself.
Today’s Activation: If you’re considering an alternative option just in case God doesn’t come through for you, ask God to help you wait for Him.
16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. Psalms 139: 16 NLT
Additional Commentary: Every day of your life was planned by God since the beginning of time. If there is a delay in things happening, be patient. He knows what He’s doing. You are always on His mind. Pray and wait and watch for His hand, moving in your life.
Scroll Down To The Comments Section and Tell Us What You Think
Lastly, before you close this letter, if the word that God spoke directly to me about honoring myself speaks to where you are in your life right now, replace my name with yours in that paragraph. Speak that word over your life daily until your heart, mind, soul and body come into agreement with it. God will help you with this and inspire you with ways to change your life for the better.
Peace in all things,
Vanessa
Lies and Love the 30-Day Heart Cleanse can be purchased in print and eBook, and is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound, iBooks, Smashwords and more.
Check out our Home page for Next Week’s Topic featuring a New Video from Vanessa Werts
About The Author
VANESSA D. WERTS is an author, military veteran, and minister with an abiding love to bridge the gap from people’s life experiences to the promises of God. Vanessa is a native of Birmingham, Alabama and currently resides with her family in a suburb of Washington, DC.
To learn more about Vanessa click on any of the following links:
Website link to 30-Day Heart Cleanse: https://www.vanessawerts.com/30-day-heart-cleanse
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamvanessawerts/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorVanessaWerts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VanessaWerts
Copyright © 2018 Vanessa D. Werts
Scroll Down To The Comments Section and Tell Us What You Think
Lastly, before you close this letter, if the word that God spoke directly to me about honoring myself speaks to where you are in your life right now, replace my name with yours in that paragraph. Speak that word over your life daily until your heart, mind, soul and body come into agreement with it. God will help you with this and inspire you with ways to change your life for the better.
Peace in all things,
Vanessa
Lies and Love the 30-Day Heart Cleanse can be purchased in print and eBook, and is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound, iBooks, Smashwords and more.
Check out our Home page on Sunday, for Next Week’s Topic: “Pursue Love” featuring a New Video from Vanessa Werts
About The Author
VANESSA D. WERTS is an author, military veteran, and minister with an abiding love to bridge the gap from people’s life experiences to the promises of God. Vanessa is a native of Birmingham, Alabama and currently resides with her family in a suburb of Washington, DC.
To learn more about Vanessa click on any of the following links:
Website link to 30-Day Heart Cleanse: https://www.vanessawerts.com/30-day-heart-cleanse
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamvanessawerts/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorVanessaWerts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VanessaWerts
Copyright © 2018 Vanessa D. Werts
#Metoo #Godheals
February 1, 2018
A few years back, I had a vision of God rummaging through my heart. He picked up a brick and said, “What’s this? How did this get here?” Then, He set it aside to reach deeper. The last thing I heard Him say while holding something I didn’t recognize was, “I thought this had been thrown out a long time ago. We need to get rid of this.”
I was blown away by the symbolism of God wanting to clean up my heart. At the time, it hadn’t dawned on me that my heart needed to be cleansed, or healed for that matter. Everything that life had thrown at me—the rejection of my father in childhood, sexual assault as a teenager, infidelity in marriage, single parenthood, and a host of other situations—I’d survived. I weathered every storm.
But what God was saying to me in that vision was, yes, you weathered the storms, but your heart was wounded in the process and in some places, became ill. The wounded places in the vision represented the hurt caused by rejection, mistreatment, disappointment, discouragement, ill-spoken words toward me, and the like. And the object that God held in his hand that I didn’t recognize represented the sick places in my heart that grew from being unforgiving.
God found grudges, roots of bitterness, anger, and even hatred deeply tucked away in my heart. Even now, thinking about the condition of my heart back then makes me cringe. How could I love anyone, including myself, from a place that unhealthy?
Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted, it says in Isaiah 61:1, to set the captives free. Salvation through Jesus Christ is only the beginning. Setting the captives free has more to do with your heart being healed than it does any other part of your being.
It is a spiritual injustice for your heart to remain broken. It is a spiritual injustice for you to feel insecure, hopeless, unloved, and unworthy of God’s best for your life. If you are experiencing spiritual injustices in your life, there is a lie at the root—a lie that has crept into your personal belief system and is masquerading as the truth.
For me, feeling unwanted by my father as a child, and later experiencing sexual assault as a teenager, planted seeds of rejection, hate, bitterness, jealousy, shame, and rage that grew into deeply rooted insecurities and a lack of self-love. I didn’t believe that I was enough for a man. Yes, I knew I was attractive, but it had already been proven in my life that looks weren’t enough to keep a man—it didn’t keep my father present. So, for years, I held my life together, excelling in my career, providing for my two sons, and crying out to God when life overwhelmed me, pressing forward no matter what, yet I ached on the inside for someone to love and accept me for who I was. The little girl inside of me, who was taken advantage of and rejected, wanted to feel loved.
Those negative seeds in my heart manifested in my adult relationships with harsh words toward anyone who had something to say that I didn’t like, and I definitely didn’t stick around in romantic relationships with men who didn’t show me love the way I needed to receive it. It was always easy to walk away and move on like nothing ever happened. Life had taught me that.
Shortly after my thirty-ninth birthday, God used a Believer that I’d recently met on a trip to my hometown in Alabama to say these words to me: God said to tell you that you don’t love yourself.
Now, I was surprised, stunned, taken aback, shocked, appalled—everything you can think of when someone drops an unexpected bomb on your life. This person had been apprehensive to tell me, and therefore, he’d waited two months before finally obeying God. Needless to say, those words shook my world. That was foolishness. My appearance was very important to me. I always kept myself together—hair, nails, the way I dressed. I was the consummate professional at work, and I didn’t leave home without at least eyeliner, mascara, lip gloss, and my brows filled in. This word from the Lord had to be wrong.
Nevertheless, I asked God, how could it be? How could I not love myself? And after I asked the question and really opened up to hearing from God on the matter, the answer came as clear as you see the words on this page. God said, “You don’t honor yourself in relationships with men. You allow yourself to be used in ways you don’t agree with because you believe that you have to do what they want to get what you want. But it doesn’t work like that,” He said. “I am Lord of your life and I love you. The void you’re trying to fill is My place in your heart. Let me love you, Vanessa. Honor yourself, Vanessa. As you honor yourself, I will honor you with a man who will honor you too.”
My goodness. What a powerful word from the Lord! Yet, even after hearing God speak those life-changing words to me in my brokenness, I struggled with the truth of it. I had believed a lie for so long—that I wasn’t enough without doing something special—till it was a major task to accept my own truth. What I really wanted was love and acceptance, to be honored, but because of the lie, I had settled for sex and indifference.
My latest book Lies and Love is about cleaning up the chaos in your heart. By the word of God’s power, in 30 days, it will help you to utterly destroy every lie and injustice operating in your life. Your heart will be made free to trust, to hope, to forgive, to love, and to be loved. You will discover the radical love of God working in your life as He meets you where you are.
The Lies and Love 30-Day Heart Cleanse is where we declare war and victory over your life and destiny. Whether you find yourself in the place where God found me, broken and dishonoring myself, or you need to be encouraged in your faith, the 30-day cleanse will reset and refresh your heart.
Lastly, before you close this letter, if the word that God spoke directly to me about honoring myself speaks to where you are in your life right now, replace my name with yours in that paragraph. Speak that word over your life daily until your heart, mind, soul and body come into agreement with it. God will help you with this and inspire you with ways to change your life for the better.
Peace in all things,
Vanessa
Lies and Love the 30-Day Heart Cleanse can be purchased in print and eBook, and is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound, iBooks, Smashwords and more.
About The Author
VANESSA D. WERTS is an author, military veteran, and minister with an abiding love to bridge the gap from people’s life experiences to the promises of God. Vanessa is a native of Birmingham, Alabama and currently resides with her family in a suburb of Washington, DC.
To learn more about Vanessa click on any of the following links:
Website link to 30-Day Heart Cleanse: https://www.vanessawerts.com/30-day-heart-cleanse
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamvanessawerts/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorVanessaWerts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VanessaWerts
Copyright © 2018 Vanessa D. Werts