The desires of our heart are what motivate our behavior. The way we act and speak shines light on exactly where those desires reside: to please God or to please ourselves. We must take time to examine our heart and see if we are staying connected and aligned with God’s own heart.
The questions we must ask ourselves cut to the core of where we place our trust. Unfortunately, many of us are reluctant to explore the depths of our heart, as we are terrified of what might be lurking down there. Yet, in Proverbs 3:1-2 (NASB)
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, BUT LET YOUR HEART KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS; 2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
Let your heart keep my commandments. This is easier said then done. Instead of allowing God to examine our motives, we tend to rely on our own heart to judge our behavior. This places us on a slippery slope as the prophet Jeremiah says the “heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9).
Our heart’s inclination will be towards sin and “the cravings of sinful man, the lust of the eyes and the boasting of what he has and does” (1 John 2:16). Jesus takes it a step further when describing what comes out of the heart as “evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness and slander” (Matthew 15:19).
This is ironic when you consider culture urges us to “follow our heart” or “go with our gut.” The problem with this logic is that our heart remains planted in our corner. It will always tell you what you want to hear. Our heart shouldn’t serve as the guide leading us through life… unless it is transformed.
So, where does our hope for transformation lie? In Ezekiel 36:26-27, it speaks about our stony heart of sin being replaced by a new, obedient heart. If God can do all of this, it seems foolish we would ever doubt that He can transform our character. God is great and powerful, but we must invite Him to be powerful in our lives. His strength is always there, but it is up to us to be receptive towards allowing His power to reside in our heart.
The God of the universe knows us intimately. We love that He knitted us together in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13) and has the hairs on our head numbered (Matthew 10:30). But, we get a little uneasy when faced with the reality that He also knows our heart and tests our thoughts (Jeremiah 12:3). We can’t fake it, depend on appearances, or hide behind masks. We can wave goodbye to the impossible task of self-preservation. Those dark places we attempt to hide from others, and sometimes ourselves, are exposed and vulnerable before God. It is His truth that penetrates deeply and His commands that pierce us (Hebrews 4:12-13. He stares directly into the depth of our heart waiting for us to be honest with Him about its’ condition. Why? Because He desires to transform our heart.
At times, we can feel utterly hopeless in our attempts to produce change and conquer sin. Yet, we can have hope knowing Christ was powerful enough to defeat sin on the cross. Understanding His heart has the ability to drastically alter and revolutionize an individual’s life. Knowing God’s character inspires us to trust Him. It is trust that makes obedience from the heart possible and obedience from the heart awakens our deepest desires for life!
Allow God access to the deepest part of your heart and its deepest desires– their fulfillment is met in Him as your heart takes on the shape of His.
God, my desire is to be a person after your heart. Help me to see this pursuit begins first with being honest about my own heart. You search my innermost being and know my insecurities, hopes, dreams, fears and desires. May I trust you with those places I’ve tried to keep hidden for far too long. Amen.
Confess your desire to want what He wants and trust Him to give you His heart.
August 17, 2011
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