The Heart of the Matter
What’s the state of your heart today? Is it overflowing with joy, or heavy with sorrow? Are you known for your kindness and generosity, or do people see you as cold and unfeeling? The Bible teaches us that our attitudes and emotions are a reflection of what’s going on inside our hearts.
A Reflection of the Heart
In Luke 6:45, we read that “the good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” This verse reminds us that our words and actions are a direct result of what’s going on inside our hearts.
Keeping a Heart Pleasing to God
So, how do we maintain a heart attitude that is pleasing to the Lord? The answer lies in being filled with the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 5:18, we’re commanded to “be filled with the Spirit.” This means allowing the Spirit to control and direct our thoughts, emotions, and actions.
Cleaning a Dirty Heart
But what if our heart is dirty? How do we get a clean heart? The answer is found in 1 John 1:9, which tells us that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” By acknowledging our sin and seeking forgiveness, we can experience cleansing and renewal.
Healing a Broken Heart
What about when our heart is broken? How can we find healing? Psalms 34:18 reminds us that the Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. We can ask God to heal our broken hearts and restore us to wholeness.
Relying on Christ
After reading these verses, it’s clear that we can’t change our hearts on our own. We need to rely totally on Christ. In John 15:5, Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” This is a humbling reminder that we need to surrender our lives to Him and allow Him to work in and through us.
A New Heart
So, how is your heart today? Can you say with the Psalmist, “Create in me a new heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10)? May we each seek to have a heart that is pleasing to God, a heart that is filled with love, kindness, and generosity.
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