The Uncommon Life Daily Challenge from Tony DungySample

Faith--The Heart of All Things

We hear the term used a lot in reference to athletes: "He has a lot of heart." It's not only important to coaches, but also important to God. Just not in the way we think of it. It was the reason God wanted to replace Saul with David. It was the reason He called Moses to lead His people. It directed the fortunes of Joseph in Egypt. Esther was guided by it in all she faced. And for Jesus, it's where everything begins.

The heart. It reflects to the world who we are--the inner character we display outwardly. It's the quarterback of the soul, guiding the decisions we make and dictating what we choose to leave behind or take with us on the journey. Our heart sets the course of every day of our lives.

The condition of our hearts will set the tone for all our relationships--including our relationship with God. It's the lens we look through. Our perceptions of God and others are based more on ourselves and our expectations than on our hearts. No wonder Jesus said a prerequisite for seeing God is having a pure heart. In the Kingdom of God and in all our relationships, the heart matters.