HEART

Proverbs 4:23—Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

This morning, as per my custom, I placed a tea bag of green tea into a plastic mug, and poured over it boiling water. The cup is equipped with a black top to reduce the chance of me spilling. I don’t want tea decorating the papers strewn across my desk, nor do I need tea-stained clothing.

Suppose a small crack developed in my mug. It would be annoying wouldn’t it—to contend with a cup that leaked? If holes appeared, I would either have to plug them somehow or throw the mug away.

When I choose to follow Jesus, my intent is that He should have my whole mug—my heart. When He fills me with His Holy Spirit and teaches me through His word, His desire is that I am holy as He is holy. For my heart to function as God intended, I must obey His will!

To give my heart to anything that is contrary to God’s will, is like puncturing my mug. The more leaks I spring from selfish desires and ungodly behavior, the less able and willing God is to fill me with Himself. How can I know or serve God if He cannot entrust Himself to me?

God said about the Israelites Moses led out of Egypt, "For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known My ways.’ So I declared on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest’" (Psalm 95:10,11). If only they could have been like King David who prayed, "Teach me Your way, O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name" (Psalm 86:11).

Give me an undivided heart O Lord! Don’t let the cravings of my flesh turn my core into a leaking vessel of shame! Create in me a wholehearted love for You that gives off the aroma of a joyful attitude and blesses Your palate with the rich taste of godliness that comes from obedient service and a humble spirit. Fill my cup Lord, for Your glory.

Inspiration

The knowledge and vision of God is dependent entirely on a pure heart. Character determines the revelation of God to the individual. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."—Oswald Chambers in Biblical Ethics

The heart's testimony is stronger than a thousand witnesses.—Turkish proverb