by Maggie Ree

“As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
{Proverbs 23:7} 

The heart. A simple little drawing of a heart is so powerful because it conveys the meaning of love toward others. In fact, when I was a little girl I was indeed very disappointed when I found out that a real heart didn’t look anything like it did when I drew one! The real human heart is one of the body’s most important organs and it is the heart that is responsible for keeping our blood moving through the body regularly.

All through the Bible the “heart” is referred to, but is it referring to our physical heart? After all, how could one of our body’s physical organs do any wrong? The heart that the Scriptures refer to is our spiritual heart…and our spiritual heart really makes up who we are inside. Just as our bodily heart pumps precious life blood through our whole being, our spiritual heart pumps its contents all through us and through our mind. This is why it is so important to have a clean heart – our whole outlook on life will be directed by what it contains.

It is so important that we examine ourselves and take a close look at our hearts to see what they contain. In 1 Corinthians 11:28 it says, “let a man examine himself,” and though this verse is expressly talking of the Lord’s Supper, it would be a wonderful thing if each of us determines to examine ourselves on a regular basis. Do you see anger or love in your heart? Gentleness or an unkind spirit? The contents of our spiritual heart don’t just stay locked up inside us, but they are responsible for our actions, our thoughts, our speech. Thus, by looking at our actions, thoughts and speech, the contents of our heart is quickly discovered. Jesus says in Matthew 15, verses 18-20, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man.” After such an assessment, it may be that we need to cry out to Him with the words of the Psalmist:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God.”

As we ask His forgiveness and seek a clean heart, don’t stop there. Seek to fill your heart again, only this time with Him. In Matthew 13, verses 43-45, Jesus tells the story of an unclean spirit that is cast out of a man and goes into dry places, seeking rest, but finding none. Finally he says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” He returns to that same man and finds him swept clean and in order, but…empty. So the spirit reenters the man with seven other spirits more wicked than himself, so that poor man is much worse off than he was to start. It isn’t just important to ask the Lord to give you a clean heart, but a heart filled with Him. So full that it can make room for nothing else.

It is also important that we clear our hearts of any grudges toward other people. If someone makes you upset or if you wrong someone, do your best to make quick amends. Don’t give sin a place to root in your heart, because, just like a nasty weed in your garden, one angry thought or word can lead to another until your whole heart is filled up. Rooting these things out speedily and healing your friendship will put your heart at peace again.

“For the Lord does not see as man sees;
for man looks at the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at the heart.”
{1 Samuel 16:7}

Would the Lord be welcome to see everything that is in your heart? If not, don’t waste another second, but come to Him now, casting yourself at His throne. “Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). May the Lord bless you!

~Maggie Bullington
{Guest Writer}

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