Heart, the word conjures within us a number of different feelings and connotations doesn't it. Is he speaking of our courage, our loves, our thoughts and intents, what makes us who we are or is he talking about mass of tissue comprising the organ which supplies our entire body with life giving oxygen? The heart is the basis for our everyday character, how we relate to and treat others and even the source of our love for our spouses, family or friends. It is an amazing word holding so many different ideas that we could spend hours studying the psychology or physiology of it! But, we won't!
Let me answer your question, I'm not talking about the organ inside all of us that supports our lives but sometimes backfires on us and is in need of repair of various types. I AM talking about the other one, the center of what makes us, us. I'm talking about the one that is the source of everything we think and believe (Proverbs 23:7). Even though the heart is the source of our beliefs, we can't trust it to MAKE those beliefs from scratch, can we?
Let me answer your question, I'm not talking about the organ inside all of us that supports our lives but sometimes backfires on us and is in need of repair of various types. I AM talking about the other one, the center of what makes us, us. I'm talking about the one that is the source of everything we think and believe (Proverbs 23:7). Even though the heart is the source of our beliefs, we can't trust it to MAKE those beliefs from scratch, can we?
"There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death." - Proverbs 14:12
"The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?" - Jeremiah 14:9
So, no! We can't trust our hearts to make those beliefs but we can trust it to keep those beliefs strong within our lives (Luke 10:27). If our religion is our actions based upon our beliefs, and it is (James 1:22-27), then our hearts must be the guiding factor in every aspect of our religion and spirituality. But, again, we can't just trust our hearts to decide what to believe in some, "Trust your heart and you will follow God" sort of way.
I used to be that way! I used to think a number of different things that were contrary to God's word and yet they were all wrong, but you would never have known if you were able to read my heart!
So, if we can't trust our hearts, what can we trust? That's pretty easy... GOD (Proverbs 64:10, 3:5)! But that's easier said than done, right? After all, God doesn't speak to mankind today the way He used to (Jude 3) so how in the world can we trust what He says if He doesn't speak to us? That question is terrifying to those that don't understand the concept, not because they do not have the mental capability of knowing the truth but because they have trusted their hearts for far too long. The answer is surprisingly comforting, especially in a world where people believe God is revealing things to them which are contrary to things God allegedly revealed to their neighbors. The answer? - God's word! The Bible, that ought to be our guide in turning our hearts toward God (Acts 3:19) and establishing a belief and religion based upon that belief that is pleasing to God!
Trust is something that I, as well as a majority of people today, have some problems with. My mindset has ALWAYS been, "If you want something done, do it yourself." And while that phrase is useful in some things it's not useful in everything, especially when it comes to salvation and spirituality. It's difficult to trust God to tell us what to do. Sometimes, many times, what He says contradicts with what we want but does t hat really matter? Remember, our hearts have to be used to follow God, not be gods.
Let me challenge our readers this Tuesday morning, forget EVERYTHING you've ever thought about God and let Him fill you back up with what He wants you to know about Him. That's the only way we are going to use our hearts, something He gave us in the first place, to glorify Him and be accepted of Him.
I used to be that way! I used to think a number of different things that were contrary to God's word and yet they were all wrong, but you would never have known if you were able to read my heart!
So, if we can't trust our hearts, what can we trust? That's pretty easy... GOD (Proverbs 64:10, 3:5)! But that's easier said than done, right? After all, God doesn't speak to mankind today the way He used to (Jude 3) so how in the world can we trust what He says if He doesn't speak to us? That question is terrifying to those that don't understand the concept, not because they do not have the mental capability of knowing the truth but because they have trusted their hearts for far too long. The answer is surprisingly comforting, especially in a world where people believe God is revealing things to them which are contrary to things God allegedly revealed to their neighbors. The answer? - God's word! The Bible, that ought to be our guide in turning our hearts toward God (Acts 3:19) and establishing a belief and religion based upon that belief that is pleasing to God!
Trust is something that I, as well as a majority of people today, have some problems with. My mindset has ALWAYS been, "If you want something done, do it yourself." And while that phrase is useful in some things it's not useful in everything, especially when it comes to salvation and spirituality. It's difficult to trust God to tell us what to do. Sometimes, many times, what He says contradicts with what we want but does t hat really matter? Remember, our hearts have to be used to follow God, not be gods.
Let me challenge our readers this Tuesday morning, forget EVERYTHING you've ever thought about God and let Him fill you back up with what He wants you to know about Him. That's the only way we are going to use our hearts, something He gave us in the first place, to glorify Him and be accepted of Him.
Remember, you can't be faithFUL unless He fills your faith and He does that through His word!
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