What is in the Heart
By Melissa Schrock
But the things that come out of a person's mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. Matthew 15:18 NIV
Parents often instruct their children to watch what they say, that words matter. Many times a week I remind my children to be kind and loving with their words.They often smirk or wrinkle their little noses. Kindness is not what is in their hearts and it is shown clearly with their words and actions. It is normal to see and hear a child act out of heart and feeling. Their disguise has not yet formed.
As we grow into adults, somehow we learn to cover up and disguise those murky areas of the heart we try to keep hidden. While kids have a way of walking with their hearts exposed, we adults try the Adam and Eve trick, grabbing fig leaves, trying to hide.
Yet God sees it all. He sees and knows about the murky places in our hearts. He calls us to walk in the light in all areas, not just the cleaned up spots. For as we walk in the light, we will have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus will cleanse us (1 John l:7).
But we can't stay in the light by our own strength or good deeds. We need the Holy Spirit's guidance and reminders just as a child needs a parents’ reminders to be kind. Lately, I have committed scripture to memory to guide my heart and lead it away from the defilement my human nature is prone to. When anger or some other thought that is not pure or lovely arises, I repeat scripture:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 ESV
Faith Step: Choose a verse to memorize this week to repeat to yourself when you feel the murky places in your heart being stirred up.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 NKJV
As we grow into adults, somehow we learn to cover up and disguise those murky areas of the heart we try to keep hidden. While kids have a way of walking with their hearts exposed, we adults try the Adam and Eve trick, grabbing fig leaves, trying to hide.
Yet God sees it all. He sees and knows about the murky places in our hearts. He calls us to walk in the light in all areas, not just the cleaned up spots. For as we walk in the light, we will have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus will cleanse us (1 John l:7).
But we can't stay in the light by our own strength or good deeds. We need the Holy Spirit's guidance and reminders just as a child needs a parents’ reminders to be kind. Lately, I have committed scripture to memory to guide my heart and lead it away from the defilement my human nature is prone to. When anger or some other thought that is not pure or lovely arises, I repeat scripture:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 ESV
Faith Step: Choose a verse to memorize this week to repeat to yourself when you feel the murky places in your heart being stirred up.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 NKJV
Melissa Schrock
Melissa Schrock is a wife, mom of 4, and the author of the book Released: From Dark Pit to Life with Abundant Hope. Melissa enjoys using everyday life situations in her writing to remind us of God's truths.
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1 Comment
I love this! A pastor from years ago did a demonstration with a tube of toothpaste once. Once the toothpaste is squeezed out, there is no putting it back in. iIt is much easier to keep yourself in check when you ate walking in the "Light ". Thank you for the scripture. I will hide it in my ❤️