Heart Struggles

Scripture: Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23 NKJV

Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. Proverbs 4:23 HCSB
Our hearts are the center of our being … literally! Whatever we have going on in our hearts is what we flesh out in our speech and our actions.  If there is love in your heart, you show love. If there is bitterness, the way you speak to others and how you treat them will reflect outwardly based on what’s going on inwardly. That’s why it’s so important to check your heart – not just physically but spiritually.

As the scripture says, we have to guard our hearts because it is the source of life. Our Heavenly Father is there to help us guard it. He knows our hearts better than we ever will. We can trust Him with every part of our being, every part of our lives so we can certainly trust Him with our hearts. The issues of life can cause us to focus on how ‘we’ are going to figure things out, how ‘we’ are going to fix things. We spend time and precious energy (which we can never get back) worrying about how it’s going to work out … when all we have to do is trust Him.

I know for myself that when I don’t trust God, when I don’t put it ALL in His hands, I become frustrated about things that I have no control over. I quickly forget that God is ALWAYS in control, He never loses control; and no matter what the situation is, He WILL work it out! But I have to let Him!!! You know the saying ‘let go, let God”? We are famous for quoting it to others in hopes of encouraging them to relinquish control to God but do we encourage ourselves to do the same? Do we practice what we preach?? Yep, come on and say it with me – OUCH and AMEN!

When the situation changes or God changes us in the situation, we realize we were worrying for nothing. We took ourselves on an emotional roller coaster ride for no reason at all. God tells us in His Word to trust Him – He knows what’s best for us. He knows what we need to drive us to Him, even if it’s something we don’t like going through. We can’t trust our emotions – they will get us in trouble every single time! And our hearts??? They are “deceitful above all things and desperately (misleading, dishonest, wicked, untrustworthy, etc., etc., etc.): who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) We cannot trust ourselves, that’s why we need God! He is not a man that He would lie. He is the only one who can change the heart. Will you trust Him with yours??

Prayer: Oh God! My heart is so full of unrighteous things … things that draw me away from You. Things that do not provoke me to good works. God, please hear my prayer! I repent! I cry out to You! Help me to open my heart to You so that You can fix it. Draw me close to You, never EVER let me go! Make my heart pliable to You and Your will. Make me a willing vessel, a conduit of Your grace so that others can see You in me and glorify You! Father, I need You! I am desperate for You! Without You, I cannot make it! Fix my heart so that I can love unconditionally like You call me to. With You, I know I can! In Jesus’ Name I pray … AMEN!!

(by Cassaundra T)