As I have been reading God’s Word lately, I’ve noticed that God truly is after our whole heart. I’ve mentioned in other blogs how God doesn’t want just a fraction of it, His desire is all or nothing. We must give our lives over to Him, because there is a dedication that Jesus asked for.
Over the years preachers have taught us to change the way we speak, act, think, etc. We have been told that if we learn to speak positively things will go better for us. If we act a certain way things will go well. We will accomplish great things with God’s help, if we think properly. However, it goes much deeper than that.
I’m definitely not against these teachings as I like to practice speaking, acting and thinking positively. I want to think the way God does. I’ve noticed, however, that all these things boil down to just one major thing, our heart. That’s it. If you want to speak, act and think right you need to guard your heart rather than the other things. Once your heart is right, everything else will line up with God’s Word.
In Proverbs 4:23 the Bible says,
Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it spring the issues of life.
We could say rather, that if you do well at guarding your heart all other things in life will go well. Your heart is the principle thing. However, It doesn’t say keep your mind with all diligence, or your mouth, rather it goes straight to the heart.
Let’s go to another verse. Look at what Jesus says.
For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34b
Furthermore, everything starts within the heart. How can we speak hate if God’s love is in our heart? If we have kindness, how will we continue to be bitter? What about if we have been forgiven, how can we harbour feelings of unforgiveness toward others? It’s just not possible. Jesus says that what’s in our heart will come out. So once again, line your heart up with God’s Word.
This is what makes your heart most important. If we can change our heart we can change the other things. It’s automatic, with a new heart all things change. This is why God said He would give us a “new heart”. He’s always been interested in our hearts. So once we give Him our hearts He will have the rest of us.
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts false witnesses, blasphemies. These are the things which defile the man. Matthew 15:19, 20a
All these sins begin in the heart. If they aren’t in your heart you won’t do or say them. Our heart needs to be right above all else. If these evil things are in our heart we will act them out. So if we have good things in our hearts we will do well. In ourselves we can do nothing. We must always be connected to the vine (John 15).
This is what God’s been showing me these days. Get your heart right. Allow the Presence of Jesus to change our heart. If we want to live a life free of sin, we need to allow God to deal with the issues of our hearts. When we harbour guilt and shame in our hearts they will grow into other evil things. As we decide to be quick to forgive and allow God’s light to shine upon our hearts we will do what He’s called us to do.
You see, Jesus doesn’t need you to work harder, be busier or do things differently. What Jesus needs is your whole heart. Once He has that He can do everything else that He needs to do in you. Your words will be words of life. It truly all boils down to a pure heart.
Let Jesus purify our hearts. Learn to live in His Presence. Allow Him to have full Lordship over your life. I know these are not words many want to hear these days, but this is what Jesus wants. He is asking you today for your whole heart. Are you willing to give it to Him?
Steven Stoffelsen
Author of Trusting God’s Timing
Founder of House of Refuge Street Ministries