Heart Check....

I listened to a discussion tonight that went round and round for a while, but settled on the matter of the heart. Our hearts are such delicate and guarded areas of our lives that it would seem we would know what things live there. However sometimes things creep in that we did not realize had taken up residence. Bitterness and self-centeredness seem to creep in the fastest. Pride and prejudice also seem to sneak in to some of the crevices. I know we don't want to admit it or maybe we don't even see it, but many times they are there.

I will confess.....I know bitterness and jealousy seem to like to really jump in to mine and then before I know it, I am so self-centered, I can't see the world around me. (I learned that confession was good for the soul.....I believe for the heart as well.) I try to not let these take up residence, but at times they seem to get control and I don't know what has hit me until I am smack dab in the middle of a pity party.

The worse part of this is that when I let things take up space in my heart and crowd out Jesus, I am limited in my testimony of His salvation. You see, when I am so focused on ME and what I want or what I need, then I lose the ability to see Christ's will for my life and for those around me.

So here is the heart check....what is going on in your heart? Are you looking at what works best for you or are you looking for what is best for others? Are you harboring bitterness and resentment towards someone for their short comings and mistakes, or are you forgiving and loving them despite what they may have done to you? Or have you decided to lock your heart away behind a wall of protection so that no one can ever get in again....including Jesus?

What would happen if we all took a step back, examined our own hearts and were honest with ourselves about what is living in our hearts and pushing our Savior out? Would we start seeing that we need a softer heart? Would we learn that no one is perfect and that none of us has a right to judge another? Would we see that until Jesus is the Lord of our HEART and our LIFE that we will never be the church that He died for us to be?

This thing called "being a Christian" does not mean we all have it right....not even our leaders. It means that we are daily giving our hearts and our lives to Christ and choosing to live in love as Christ loved us. When we allow anything other than Christ to take up residence and control the heart, we open the door for many heart attacks, not the medical kind, but the spiritual kind. If you give the evil one a foothold in your heart, he will take it and run.

I was always taught to GUARD YOUR HEART. I also know that we can ask God to CREATE WITHIN US A CLEAN HEART AND RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN US. We need to do a heart check. We need to look at our motives and our desires. Are we in this for our own selfish gratification or have we opened our hearts to be like Christ? If it is to be like Christ then we MUST get rid of all filth that clogs any artery of love and forgiveness and step out of the way for true healing to begin.

My heart has needed a check up for a while. No more bitterness. No more unforgiveness. No more envy. No more pride. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me!