A Matter of Heart 1

How much have we considered our hearts?  The Scriptures, I am finding have much to say.  Many times as I share with people about what I am learning the phrase "But, God knows my heart" comes up. Usually in reference to something they are changing the meaning and purpose of.  In this and subsequent posts I am going to post what I am learning concerning my own heart and what the Scriptures reveal concerning the heart.

Heb 4:12  For the Word of Elohim is living, and working, and sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting through even to the dividing of being and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

Pro 4:23  Guard your heart with all vigilance,
for from it are the sources of life. (NET)

Some one has said the heart is so important to the things we think, say and do, we must regularly perform open heart surgery through the use of the Word of Elohim, but always under the guidance and direction of the great physician.  
   How is this done?  It can be done with the convicting ministry of the Ruach HaKodesh or Set-Apart Spirit.  It is done through the use of the Scriptures and making sure our lives are right before the Almighty.  Our lives as in our hearts, our motivations, our desires, our thoughts, 
2Ti 3:16  All Scripture is breathed by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for setting straight, for instruction in righteousness, 
2Ti 3:17  that the man of Elohim might be fitted, equipped for every good work. 

I am finding so much of what we do is motivated by self.  Our desire to be successful as the world views success.  How smart can I look, or what kind of impression do I make on others.  We live in a driven society, driven to look right, have the right house, the right car, the right family, and the list goes on.  There isn't much that would place an emphasis on the inner person, on the heart which Scripture points out is the very well-spring of life.  This is where the thoughts, emotions, motives, ambitions values, and decisions take place.  Here we also must be careful we do not become self centered because it goes against everything we are taught in this world we are in.  Today's spirituality has become more man-centered than centered around our Creator Elohim.  Most of what is accomplished is done for our benefit than for the benefit of the Kingdom.  We forget we are called to be ambassadors.  

Bloesch writes:  In our society today, the humanist ideal of happiness or interior well-being was incorporated into Christian faith without any drastic modification so that religion was given a decidedly anthropocentric orientation. It is generally acknowledged that much popular religion (both conservative and liberal) is narcissistic (egocentric), focusing on inner feelings and on purely personal hopes and goals. God is deemed necessary to help his people attain the desires of their hearts or to find perfect happiness. Some even make the object of religion sound like capitalist consumerism—acquiring the goods of this life. But is prosperity an inevitable concomitant of true faith?1

We must all ask ourselves this question: How well am I guarding (keeping) my heart? Is the condition of my heart my greatest concern? It should be because it is so determinative of every aspect of life. It ultimately determines our love for God and for others. It determines who we are and what we do.

There is more to come as I share my heart and what is happening to it and in it.  Hopefully making a difference in the outside of me for the right reasons with the right results.  May Yahweh Elohim create in me a clean heart for His esteem.