Something New: Head, Heart, Hands

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5–6, ESV)

Starting Something New

I have really enjoyed writing my Praying Through the Psalms posts on this blog. Many of you have also mentioned your appreciation for these posts. However, I am changing things up a bit. 

I would like to add new elements to my blog. I have more that I would like to say. So, I’m going to branch out a bit. 

The Puritans: Head, Heart, & Hands

I don’t remember where I read it (most likely in a book written by Joel Beeke) but the Puritans focused on preaching to the Head, Heart, and Hands. They intentionally addressed each of these areas in their sermons.

Some people don’t like dividing things up like this. Some have said that we shouldn’t try to make distinctions between the head and the heart (or the hands). But I find it to be helpful. Obviously, we realize that our head, heart, and hands are all connected. We won’t do something unless we know what to do (head) and want to do it (heart). They are all connected to one another. 

Yet, I find it helpful to think about each aspect individually. It’s easy for us to become overly focused on one area. Some are tempted to only focus on the “head” aspects of the Christian faith, others the “heart” aspect, others the “hands” aspect. By looking at each area individually, we notice which areas we naturally lean toward and we can learn to be more “well-rounded” in our faith by looking at the other areas. 

Head, Heart, & Hands

So, as I’ve been thinking about how to make my blog more “well-rounded,” I’ve decided to follow the guidance of the Puritans. I have been posting three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), which nicely fits with the threefold breakdown of head, heart, and hands. 

My plan is to keep writing the Praying the Psalms Posts on Fridays. I see these posts as focused more on stirring our hearts toward prayer and worship of God (Yes, I realize these posts address the head and call us to fold our hands in prayer. They are all connected). 

To address the “head,” I plan on writing a new series of posts that will look at the Doctrine of God. Don’t be intimidated by the language. These posts will look at the names of God and the attributes of God. It’s my desire that these posts will help us get to know our God more fully, which will stir our hearts to worship and our hands to action. I will post these on Wednesdays. 

Finally, on Mondays, I will write some current reflections about things going on in our country, community, or the church. These will have a particular emphasis on our “hands,” hopefully giving guidance on how to live out our Christian faith in light of our current cultural circumstances. 

Weekly Overview of Posts

Mondays: Current Cultural Reflections (Hands)

Wednesdays: Doctrine of God (Head)

Fridays: Praying Through the Psalms (Heart)