The Heart
As we continue in this month of sanctification, we are cutting and pruning old branches so that we can be fresh and fruitful for February and the months ahead in the Lord.
Jeremiah writes:
“The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
I, the LORD, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings
— Jeremiah 17:9–10
Don’t Even Trust Yourself
Our emotions and feelings can deceive us. A heart without wisdom can lead us astray, causing foolish decisions and a careless way of living.
We have all made many mistakes when we follow our feelings instead of God’s truth.
Scripture warns us not to trust our own hearts, because it can be deceitful and corrupt.
Instead, we are called to live with hearts led by the Holy Spirit—hearts that build on the solid rock of God’s Word.
This means planning carefully, walking in wisdom, and exercising due diligence rather than impulse.
By Grace
God does not leave us in this condition. He promises:
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh
— Ezekiel 36:26
Because of this, we can confidently pray:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a right spirit within me
— Psalm 51:10
Let us examine our hearts before the living God and remove anything that causes division, hardness, or offence.
New Hearts
Under the New Covenant, God has given us new hearts.
He has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
These are hearts that obey the commands of God.
1. Love God
2. Love our neighbour
3. Love one another, just as Christ loved us
Let us actively practise even more this kind of love in this season through God.
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:5 )
Let us all spend some time alone with God, in the secret place of prayer, and truly examine our hearts.
Let us ask Him to heal any brokenness and to knit us back together, so that we may be whole.
Christ paid a very high price at the cross to heal the broken-hearted (not the stubborn-hearted), but those who come with sincere and contrite hearts and are in need of healing.
The faithful One will surely do it.
As the Lord lives, may He continue to encourage us all to finish the race with confidence.
We can boldly come to the throne of God in our time of need, and He will refresh us. Bless the Lord.
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 4.16