…the Lord does not
see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at
the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
So what is the content of your heart?
We have been exploring this
question in the past few weeks. Yeshua declares that only the pure in heart
shall see God. The word of God also says that the heart of man is deceitful
above all things and desperately wicked. Every imagination of the thoughts of man
was only evil continually.
In my Christian walk, every step requires a deliberate effort and
mindfulness. Life itself is full of challenges, relationships and friendships
has its ups and down. You get hurt and try not to lash out. You get angry but
try to avoid keeping malice. You try not to let disappointment and frustration
weigh you down. The heart is continuously processing all these emotions. How do
we keep our heart pure with all these, going on in it?
I have realised that holiness in any form is dependent on some
fundamental truths.
I will give you a new
heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of
your flesh and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26 NKJV). A heart that
will be receptive to holiness is one that will receive and react to the Spirit
of the Living God. We need Almighty God to mold and shape our heart, removing
every stony and hardness, that will not accept Him. Only God can circumcise our
heart to love Him with all of our hearts.
Another fundamental truth is that Elohim God has given man free will to
make choices. We can choose to keep our heart pure, what we allow in and retain
in our heart is up to us. King David said, “Your
word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm
119:11). The study and meditation on the word of God will fill your heart with
the right stuff. It is the living word of God that can penetrate into all facet
of your heart, discerning the thoughts and the intent, keeping it clean. If you
do not make the study and meditation on the Word, a core part of your daily
routine, other things will occupy your heart.
The heart is like a sponge, it soaks in whatever is transmitted to it by
the eyes, the ears, the touch, the taste and the smell. We need a sieve to help
filter what gets soaked in. We need the help of the Holy Spirit. There is so
much going around us that it is impossible to shut oneself off the world but
how do we ensure we do not take in everything we see, hear, touch, feel or
smell? We need the help of the Holy Spirit to empower us with wisdom and the
grace to keep our heart holy without corruption.
The state of your heart is up to you. What practical steps are you
taking to keep it holy and undefiled? How is your prayer life? What do you read
and meditate on?
#prayerfortheweek
Almighty
Father, thank You for the gift of my life and the grace of salvation. Circumcise
my heart to love You Lord with all my heart and with all my soul. Put a new
spirit within me and give me a heart of flesh. Help me to hide your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
I pray
this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ).
Spend this week to meditate on the passage and take relevant step to live out
your faith.
#AdeolaAkintoye
©
#ajourneytospiritualmaturity
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