We all are aware of the importance of our physical heart~ it is a vital organ and if it is sick our health declines. The heartbeat of our spiritual life is just as important. Our hearts need to be carefully cared for.
Psalm 19:12 says, “How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.” The Amplified Bible renders it, “Clear me from hidden (unconscious) faults.”
It’s the things we aren’t consciously aware of that we must ask the LORD, like David did in Psalm 26, to reveal to us. Proverbs 21:2 says, “All a man’s ways seem right to him but the LORD weighs the heart.” We need the Holy Spirit to guide us into all Truth so we can be set free to walk in greater freedom.
An example from my own life that really made this even clearer to me was a time when I began to notice things my husband was doing that was bothering me in ways that normally didn’t bother me at all. It was like these things were just grating on my nerves! So, I looked at all I was aware of~ I wasn’t mad or upset with him. I wasn’t aware of any unforgiveness. Being puzzled I went to the LORD about the matter. It was very shocking to me when He said I had resentment. Because I am an avid believer in forgiveness I tend to forgive as soon as an offense occurs. As I allowed the LORD to search my heart I found that while I did say I forgive, I never let go of the situation. When I failed to work through the process I had assumed everything was fine while in reality resentment was setting up in my heart! I had to repent of resentment and go in the direction of working through forgiveness.
JESUS said in Matthew 12:34 and Luke 6:45 that out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.What was coming out of my mouth didn’t line up with what I thought was in my heart. But the LORD knew!
Have you ever heard someone. maybe yourself, say something like, “I didn’t want to be ugly to them but they just drove me to it.” The truth is we cannot blame other people for what is in our own heart, no matter how much they get on our nerves. JESUS said in Matthew 15:19 “For out of the heart come evil thoughts- murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony.” What is coming from our heart~ judgment or mercy~ criticism or love~ungratefulness or thankfulness?
I have noticed that anytime I state a blessing followed with “but” I had better take a closer look at what I said! For example if I say, “I am so thankful GOD blessed me with this house but I sure wish it was bigger…Had this……Had that…..was in this area…etc.” When I make such a statement I am not voicing contentment. I am in effect saying, “GOD this isn’t exactly right, it’s not how I would have chosen it.” Our heart is not content and thankful.
And so we pray from Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me O GOD and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” Only with the LORD’s help can we see what’s in our hearts. <sup class="crossreference" value="(A)”>
Coffee With the King 