Day 84 "Following God's Heart: The True North Star"

Before GPS , there was another way that people found their way from one place to another, especially navigating on the open seas. I came across this article at (https://www.natural-navigator.com/find-your-way-using/stars/) written by Tristan Gooley on how to navigate using the stars. I found the information about the North Star particularly enlightening.

How to navigate using the Stars

Lots of people love the idea of finding direction and navigating using the stars, but are put off because they fear it is complicated. It does not need to be complicated at all, it is some-thing you can learn to do in minutes. In fact finding direction using the stars is much quicker and easier than using a compass. It is also a lot more fun. Imagine one night you arrange to meet a friend under a lamppost on the other side of a gentle hill. As you walk towards your friend you would see the light appear over the brow of the hill, long before your friend became visible. You would know exactly what direction they were, even though you could not see them. This is the simple concept behind using the stars to find our way at night.

The stars can act as our lampposts.

All we need do is find a star that is directly above the place we need to get to and it will point exactly the right direction for us, from quarter of the globe away. If you called a friend on the telephone who was in another country a few thousand miles away, and you asked them to name the star that was directly over their head, you could then find that star in the night sky and the point on the horizon directly below that would be their exact direction from you at that moment. Unfortunately, a few minutes later that star would have moved and so you would need a new one. It would take a lot of phone calls to use this method with most stars! Fortunately there is one star in the night sky that does not appear to move. It is called Polaris, or the North Star.

The easiest method for finding the North Star is by finding the ‘Plough’, an easy to identify group of seven stars. It is known as the ‘Big Dipper’ to the Americans and the ‘saucepan’ to many others. Next you find the ‘pointer’ stars, these are the two stars that a liquid would run off if you tipped up your ‘saucepan’. The North Star will always be five times the distance between these two pointers in the direction that they point (up away from the pan). True north lies directly under this star. The ‘Plough’ rotates anti-clockwise about the North Star, so it will sometimes appear on its side or even upside down. However its relationship with the North Star never changes and it will always dependably point the way to it.

The reason the North Star is so important for natural navigation is that it sits directly over the North Pole. Something that people often forget is that whenever you are trying to find true north, you are actually trying to find the direction of the North Pole from wherever you are – even if you are only heading a few hundred metres on a gentle walk – ‘north’ is still just an abbreviation for ‘towards the North Pole’. The constellation, Cassiopeia, is also very helpful in finding the North Star as it will always be on the opposite side of the North Star from the Plough and therefore often high in the sky, when the Plough is low or obscured. Having found the North Star, there is something about its height above the horizon that is well worth knowing. Wherever you are in the northern hemisphere, the North Star will be the same angle above the horizon as your latitude. This can be measured accurately using a sextant, but an estimate can be made using an outstretched fist. We are all different shapes and sizes, but we share proportions. An outstretched fist makes an angle of close to 10 degrees for most people. In an under a minute and with just your bare hands you can now find north and estimate your latitude.

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The North Star, the one star that is consistent and well-positioned, enables us to find direction like a compass from where we are to where we want to go. In our spiritual journey, growing in our ability to become "Christ-like" can also be navigated by an internal compass of sorts that can moves us closer to God or further away depending on the confirmation of our heart beat in rhythm with Gods' heart beat. However, in its fleshly nature- the sin nature- the Bible describes our heart as being wicked and deceitful. It is only when one surrenders to the lordship and savior of Jesus Christ that one is spiritually born anew and the laws of God are written on our heart and the Holy Spirit is deposited within us to direct our steps. The more we attach ourselves to the ways of the world, the more you will hear the drumbeat of the world drowning out the Spirit's promptings within you. The more you tune out the ways of the world, the greater you will hear the Spirit within you and find your heart beginning to beat in the same rhythm as God's heart.

Below you will find some verses from the Bible which help define the heart and the possibilities of great things when beating in the same rhythm to God's heart. May you let them wash over you and marinate you soul.

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"

Jeremiah 17:9

"The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful." Matthew 13:22

"And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your

God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 10:12

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;" Ephesians 4:22

 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2

"For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." Romans 10:10

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

"But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.  Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:31-34

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate,the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:25-27

“The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet: ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’" Acts 28:25-27

"Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:8

"After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’"

Acts 13:22

"Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes.He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God." 1 Corinthians 4:5

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." Colossians 3:1

"Dear friends,if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God."

1 John 3:21

"Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,the Spirit who calls out,“Abba,]Father.” Galatians 4:6

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power of us who believe. " Ephesians 1:18

"And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding,will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." Colossians 3:16

"May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence

of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones."

1 Thessalonians 3:13

Like so many good things that can be used wrongly in the wrong hands, the heart that focuses on self can prove to be selfish and self-seeking. But the heart in the hands and love of God can be transformed into a remarkable channel through which God's love can flow and nourish the hearts of others. Love is not what we do, it is how we do it- every moment of the day. Jesus said that he would not leave us alone in the world to live as orphans, but that he would provide us with a Counselor to be with us. The greater you hear the heartbeat of God, the more you will be able to see the temporary nature of this world and see the permanence of God's kingdom that awaits us. The more you see that, the greater will come into focus that which is really important in this lifetime- to love.

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"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

Leaving you in his love, I will see you tomorrow.

"Carpe Momentum in Love" (Seize the moment in love"