The Heart of Man... The Condition of Man

Have you ever wondered why someone is the way they are or why they even say things they say? You may be thinking maybe they had a tough childhood or went through a traumatic experience or maybe they are just depressed and miserable all the time and can't help it but truth be told, it's the posture of their heart. The heart is far beyond the organ that pumps blood around the body, but it is the emotional, spiritual side of us that is connected to the soul and mind. Truth be told, our actions, thoughts, and what we say are a direct reflection of our heart. Jesus said that as a man thinketh so he is in his heart. A lot of our actions stem from a decision already conceived in the heart, that's why the Bible tell us that if we hate someone, we would have already murdered them in our hearts- imagine that. This is why the Psalmist asked for a clean heart after he sinned before the Lord. He knew that his actions were preconceived from his heart.. his heart - the place where worship also flowed. Our heart reveals our true character, who we are behind closed doors, who we are when the church doors close on a Sunday and only God can see the heart of man so there's no need to pretend with Him. In 1 Samuel, the Bible tells us that man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart and if I'm being honest that causes me to tremble because only He knows our true intentions. "God knows my heart, only he can judge me." Yes, He does and most certainly will. For our character to change for the better we must constantly do a heart check. Am I harbouring malice? Do I hate my neighbour? Have I truly forgiven the person who stole my money 10 years ago? It takes vulnerability and honesty to truly check our hearts and ask the Lord to cleanse it for His glory. Let's intentionally check the postures of our hearts daily to see if it truly reflects the attributes of our Father as the issues of life really does flow from such a place and influence our character.