Daily devotion – hearts before God
Pro 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
Though it goes against our inherited sinful nature, we can and must cultivate a heart that loves wisdom and is focused upon her. If wisdom is regarded as only a system of rules and threats, then her purpose is never achieved. We should pray for and pursue wisdom in the midst of the heart.
“A neglected Bible is the melancholy proof of a heart that is alienated from God. For how can we have a spark of love for him if that Book that is full of his revealed glory is despised?” (Bridges)
The greatest commandment states, Mat 22:37 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
The Bible speaks repeatedly about the heart of a believer. Jesus stressed repeatedly that our heart must be right before God. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” “those who mourn,” “Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,” and “the pure in heart”.
Jesus went on to say, “Everyone whom looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” “This people honours Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me” and “For out of the heart come evil thoughts”
That’s a lot of Scripture on matters of our heart you would have to agree. So how then do we keep our heart right with God?
Firstly, it’s important what we fill our heart with for that will dictate what comes out of our heart – in other words how we live and speak. This is why daily and constant reading and being in the Word of God is so important! As you fill your heart with the Word of God there grows strength, guidance and wisdom so that the Holy Spirit can bring to your mind Scriptures as you go about you business.
Be careful with what you allow to fill your heart with. Parents need to be ever vigilant in helping our kids be in the Word as well so that their hearts are feeding on the wisdom of God’s Word.
Secondly, King David tells us how powerful God’s Word in our hearts can keep us from sin – Psa 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee
Today, be sure to keep your heart healthy before God by filling it with His precious Word.
Remember Christianity is not a self-help movement. Our sanctification, the keeping of our hearts right before God, is the result of the indwelling Holy Spirit, who supplies the wisdom and strength we each need to love in conformity to Jesus Christ.
Paul reminded us of this when He said, “By the grace of God I am what I am” – 1 Corinthians 15:10