Issues Of The Heart

Heart appears in scripture eight hundred and thirty times in seven hundred sixty two verses. These scriptures tell us that the heart is the seat of affection. (Eph 4:23) His elect are graciously affected of God by their hearts. (Pro 21:1) Our hearts are enlightened (2Cor 4:6), tried (1 Thes 2:4), have faith (Rom 10:10), trust (Pro 3:5), love (Matt 22:37), fear (Jer 32:40), fidelity (Neh 9:8), zeal (2 Chr 17:16) and to be perfect (Psa 101:2). The heart should render to God obedience (Eph 6:6), it should seek God (Psa 84:2), be upright (Psa 97:11), clean (Psa 51:10), pure (Matt 5:8), sincere (Lk 8:15), repentant (Psa 34:18), devout (Psa 119:10), wise (Job 9:4), tender (Eph 4:32), holy (1 Pet 3:15), compassionate (Lam 3:51) and lowly (Matt 11:29). Our hearts can also be full of iniquity (Rom 1:21), love evil (Jer 17:5), be a fountain of evil (Matt 12:34), be way ward (Pro 6:14), blind (Rom 1:21), double-minded (Isa 9:9), unstable (Pro 27:8), hard (Mark 6:52), deceitful (Jer 17:9), proud (Pro 18:12), subtle (Pro 7:10), sensual (Rom 8:7), worldly (2 Chr 26:16), malicious (Ecc 7:26), diabolical (John 13:2), covetous (2 Pet 2:14) and foolish (Ecc 9:3). But what do these mean? What is the extent of these understandings? How do we keep our hearts unto all righteousness and how will that show forth in our lives that our child may by their hearts glorify God by our example?

We are commanded to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and might, to have a willing mind and contrite spirit. (Mat 22:37 & Psa 34:18) To keep our hearts fixed on God, to be fruitful unto righteousness. (Col 1:10) To keep our hearts with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. (Pro 4:23)

The heart by definition is the inner self that thinks, feels and decides. The heart is central to a person, it directs his steps, chooses his thoughts, produces his life. What is in a man’s heart, so is he.

Our children will only be as good as what is in their hearts. We may only guide them in uprightness when our hearts are right. We cannot expect our child to do any better than we have done ourselves. Most assuredly we know that the Lord does not see, nor judge as we do. For a man can only look to the outward appearance but the Lord looks to the heart. (1 Sam 16:7) We can only know a man’s heart by what his life produces. (Matt 12:33 & 7:20) As teachers, as parents we must fashion our hearts unto God that our lives show forth righteousness unto our children. When our hearts are not diligent unto God, our lives will become a lie and our children will reflect that lie. But when our hearts seek after the Lord with all our strength, soul and mind, our steps are directed by Him, our thoughts are formed by Him, our strength is found in Him, our love is all for Him, our souls belong to Him, our words are about Him and our hearts live in Him. May this be what God sees in our hearts and our children.

-Stacey Wallace