Got Heart Trouble?

God warns us in Jeremiah 17:9 that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” This is hard for us to reconcile since our culture encourages us to ‘follow your heart’ in every situation. Have you ever felt your heart deceive you, proving to be hard and uncaring upon occasion? I have. How is your heart today? Have you ever hardened your heart out of self-protection from hurt, or from fear or even from judging another harshly? If so, God has a remedy for us all.

In Psalm 139:23-24 a contrite King David cried out to God, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” He received an immediate response from God, as he did when he prayed in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

How does God respond to this type of fervent request?

In Ezekiel 36:26, God responded through His prophet, “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” In my experience, when God makes a promise, He keeps it! May we all ‘take heart’ in that hope from our loving God.

Let us Walk in His Way:

Dear Lord God, give us the courage to see the truth about the condition of our own hearts. Cleanse us of all things that displease You or do not reflect the heart of Jesus. And when we submit to Your purifying process, help us cling to the promises of Psalm 37:4 which encourages us to “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” May we find joy in the words of Matthew 5:8, which says “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” May we all be counted in that number! In Jesus’ Name, we pray, Amen.

by Corinne “Kinney” deHamel

author of “Walk in His Way” for

Carry the Light Ministries