This week in America, we celebrated Valentine’s Day which is a holiday about love that comes from the heart. My question today is, “How is your heart?” Or, should I say, “How is your attitude?” I believe our attitudes come from our hearts. The Bible dictionary indicates that the word “heart” is mentioned over a thousand times in the Bible. If God is mentioning our hearts that many times, I think it is something worth understanding.
As a young believer, one of the scriptures that set me free was 1 Samuel 16:7 – But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. What set me free was that God said He looks at our hearts! I didn’t know or understand scripture, but my desire was to always try to do what was right. This scripture showed me that God looked at my heart and not at whether I could quote scripture or say and do everything correctly.
The eyes are meant to see, the ears to hear, and the heart to understand, discern, and give insight. How do we get understanding and insight? Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Studying and meditating on the scriptures is how to get His Word and promises into your heart. If you need healing for your body, study and mediate on healing scriptures. If you are struggling with finances, find scriptures and God’s promises about finances and put them in your heart. Then what do you do?
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23). Guarding your heart at all times is so important. This verse is saying that everything you do flows directly from your heart. The Message Bible translates this verse as “Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.” The Living Bible says, “Above all else, guard your affections. For they influence everything else in your life.” The heart is at the core of who you are and is more than an organ beating about 100,000 times per day (according to WebMD) giving you physical life; it also gives you spiritual life.
The day before Jesus was betrayed and crucified on the cross, He said to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). If you go back to the beginning of that chapter, John 14:1, Jesus gave a command, “Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me.” Jesus put the responsibility on you to not let your heart be troubled by anything in this world. Fear, anxiety, sickness—nothing in this world should cause you to lose the peace of God that He has given you. And, only love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) should be coming out of your heart. If the Fruit of the Spirit is flowing out of your heart, healing will manifest as well. Whatever is flowing out of your heart is impacting your attitude toward your situation.
If you have not seen the manifestation for your healing, you might want to check your heart or your attitude. Could there be unforgiveness, strife, anger, frustration, anxiety, bitterness, envy, quarreling, etc., deep inside your heart that might be blocking your manifestation? Check your heart. Ask the Holy Spirit if there is anything within your heart that might have a stranglehold. Check your attitude. Is the Fruit of the Spirit evident in your life? Can others see love, joy, and peace even if you are in the midst of a crisis? If you are modeling Jesus to others, your heart should not be troubled by anything you may be experiencing in this world today.
As Jesus is, so are you in this world (1 John 4:17).
~Donna Jones