“The Next Spiritual Journey” Day 10: The heart contains the ingredients for your life.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭10‬ ‭

Last time, we discussed how what goes on in your heart, will determine your future. What we did not do was to address what we mean when we speak of our heart. For our purposes, what do you suppose the Bible means when speaking of the heart?

Of course, we know we are not talking about the organ that beats in the middle of our chest. Although, if the heart doesn’t beat, life stops. Blood flows to the heart and from the heart; and if the organ we call our heart is diseased, quality of life is greatly decreased. And if the disease goes far enough, life slips away.

Therefore, using the heart organ, as sort of a metaphor for what the writers of the word of God meant when speaking of the heart, is a good fit.

Now, in terms of biblical references to the heart, we must first acknowledge that we are told that it is possible to have an evil heart or a good heart.

Last time, we employed some scriptures referencing an evil heart, and a good heart, and how the condition of the heart determines the person’s way of being and doing (behaviors seen and unseen). But before moving from that, let’s add one more scripture:

"Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God".

Hebrews 3:12 ESV

This warning from the writer of Hebrews, is sobering. Unbelief, allowed to be planted and grown in the heart, can actually take us away from the Lord.

So then, what is the Bible referencing when speaking of the heart? The heart represents or speaks of the hidden person. It includes our emotions, attitudes, intellect, even personality, all the things making us the unique person we are.

Interestingly, the heart is not predetermined and static. In other words we aren’t “handed” a particular type of heart. You see, other characteristics about us—the color of our eyes, or hair, or skin—is genetically determined, and can only be changed in appearance, but not in actuality. But the heart—who we are—is constantly being changed by those things to which we are exposed, whether those things be good, or evil.

Now, we do know, having been born in sin, we have inherited the sin stain, the evil “sway” from our original parents. But, thanks, be to the cross of Christ, the heart of the redeemed person, need not continue on in an evil way of being and doing.

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Here, Paul is saying that we can choose not to be conformed to the world in our way of being and doing. Otherwise, how could we be ordered to do differently? Now, Paul references the renewing of our mind; but the mind, our way of thinking, the mindset, is certainly a large part of what is referenced as our heart.

Last time, we saw that the writer of proverbs instructs that the heart should be well-guarded. But how do we guard our heart?

You see, our eyes, our ears, our imagination, etc., all provide access to that which is righteous. Unfortunately, as well as that, unrighteousness can enter in through the same points of access. Therefore, in terms of guarding the heart, we must be vigilant, not consuming with any of our senses, that which is evil, that which is of the world, that which leads us astray.

Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, gives an outline for how to guard the heart.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬-‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul instructs that the breastplate of righteousness protects the heart.

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭13‬-‭17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

But how does the breastplate of righteousness guard our heart?

It guards, our heart by making sure that we are always mindful of, and obedient to, God‘s way of being and doing. That is, we allow nothing into our heart that is not consistent with God‘s righteousness, nothing contrary to His commands.

The psalmist, in speaking to God, indicates that he can do God’s will, because God’s instructions are written on his heart.

“I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.” I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭40‬:‭8‬, ‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So, how to those instructions, get “written” on our heart? They get written on our heart by our meditating on the word, reading the word, thinking on the word, examining our life through the word, making the word of God paramount in terms of any kind of input, any kind of advice, any kind of instruction.

In our opening scripture, we see the psalmist, after a great failure in his life, asking the Lord to create a new faithful heart in him. Indeed, Jesus Christ came to give us that new start, give us that new heart.

Friend, we must not be sloppy with what we allow through the access points to our heart, to our soul. Praise God, through Jesus Christ, we now have the indwelling of His Holy Spirit, Who will lead us, Who will guide us, into all truth. However, if we will not listen to Him, if we will not apply ourselves to learning the word of God, if we are constantly feeding ourselves with the addictive junk the world system has to offer, our heart may well become diseased. And make no mistake, when all has been said and done, how we have treated our new heart given us through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, will determine our future in this life, and in the next.

Peace to you. Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!