My Heart

My name is Arthur Robert Graves. I am currently an undergraduate a Florida State University, pursuing a degree in Creative Writing. More importantly, I am a servant of God and a follower of Jesus Christ.

As a Christian, I am young. Having grown up in church, I found myself, for several years, skeptical of the reality of God. I was striving simultaneously to seek after God and to convince myself that he did not exist. Nevertheless, my heart has been, all along, after the same thing: anything real, anything true, anything right—that is what I wish to pursue.

Unable to find anything worthwhile in the material world, I am convinced that there is something more to this existence than what is immediately visible. From now on, I journey after my heart, after the truth.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. [Philippians 4:8 NIV]

By faith, the only certainty, I believe in the biblical God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Further I believe that Jesus was the son of God and the ultimate sacrifice for human sin, the only true means of communing with God.

By faith, with joy, I believe in the trinity of God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit. I believe the Holy Spirit is just as alive and active in our lives today as it was in the early church of the New Testament: providing boldness for the followers of Christ, to spread the gospel more effectively; filling our hearts with prophetic words and visions for the encouragement of one another, to serve God more confidently; filling our mouths with unearthly tongues for the edification of our own spirits, to praise God more sincerely; and ministering supernatural healing and other miracles in the physical world, that others might come to know God and place their trust in Christ.

By faith, with humility (because I am undeserving of all God has given me), I believe that life cannot be lived for oneself. That will only lead to bitterness or false joy. I pray that God will purge from my heart any selfish desires, any pride, anything that dishonors him and hinders me from worshipping him with my whole self. As Jesus said:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. [Matthew 22:37-40 NIV]

If any of this seems lofty or romantic, it is. As for me, I refuse to live my life for nothing, to coast through in numbness. Not any more.

I pray that this blog will honor God as an opportunity for me to understand him better, so I can praise him better. In the process, I hope that anyone who chooses to read it will also see a glimpse of the heart of God, that they too might learn to honor him better.

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple. [Psalm 27:4 KJV]

Father, guide my words as I write, for your glory alone.

Sincerely…