Heart needs Guidance

30 August 2011

            The heart needs guidance because naturally it undertakes selfish pursuits. The heart of man is not a safe place, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered.” Bible says “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways,” ……For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth, And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”(Isaiah 55:8-11)  It is obvious that the word sown in the heart will not go as a waste, it will perform wonders.

There are some valid reasons why the heart needs guidance:

• We are ignorant and desperately need the wisdom and direction of the Lord to understand the world and its activities because our own heart is all filled wickedness. “A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the LORD.” (Proverbs 19:3) warns us that our foolishness threatens or changes or over turns  our way.
• We are selfish by nature as we read “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;”( Isaiah 53:6). We want to live independently in order to control and direct our own dealings . and inherently disobedient by nature .
• The heart is more deceitful and wicked, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”  (Jeremiah 17:9)  We can not trust our own heart because of it is, self-centered, and self-protective in  behavior and in its strategies,  hence we need to learn, to lean on the Lord, ignoring the circumstances. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;”( Proverbs 3:5).” "Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:”( Psalm 37:5)  But our heart, misleads us through its futile information . Beware.
• The heart is desperately sick, and  incurably wicked and “beyond cure”(Jeremiah 17:9) We cannot eradicate or  improve, or modify the feelings of the heart, it consist of the mind, its emotions, the will power and the whole features of the  inner man.
• The heart cannot be understood by our own wisdom. God  alone can reveal “ I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:10) God knows our heart “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.” (Proverbs . 17:3)
• It is in your hands to enable the heart to move in the right directon.“Search me, 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.”(Psalm 139:23).  Obviously, We are talented and able to deceive ourselves.

• The heart is the wellspring of life; the fountain of attitudes, values, beliefs, aspirations, and pursuits, “…..guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs. 4:23) If you loose the chance of protecting your  heart ,it may lead us astray
•  The heart is the fountain, and it has streams flowing from it—the eyes, the mouth, the feet, the ears (i.e.), it implies on the words and  the actions and reactions. In this world , to balance our character, and to improve the traits, we have to guard our hearts. No other chance you have. “…be wise, and set your heart on the right path”( Proverbs 23:19)

           On the reverse side you have to give your heart genuinely what it needs- sacrifice, risk, accountability and involvement etc. It is our source of strength, joy, and the real  meaning of  life. We should not withhold the heart - it exposes our inability and our reluctance to give our hearts to God. “…These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” (Isaiah 29:13)

Henceforth the Heart needs a methodological preparation. The rebellious  nature has to be tamed, with wise words ,wise speech, pure thoughts, clean habits and ideas, of course with proper understanding.“Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD. Their hearts are secure, (Psalm 112:7-8). Person with well prepared heart will be able to respond to God in any different and difficult situations of life.

       A well guarded heart is to be purified, Cheered, Encouraged, Comforted and   to be strengthened.

 A joyful heart makes you as a cheerful person. Let not your heart be troubled. “Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.”(Psalm 37:4)

“Teach me your way, LORD, 

that I may rely on your faithfulness; 
give me an undivided heart,  

that I may fear your name. 

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; 

I will glorify your name forever.” ( Psalm 86:11)

A cheerful heart is good medicine.  Proverbs 17:22

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