heart |hɑːt| noun 1 the heart regarded as the centre of a person’s thoughts and emotions, especially love or compassion: She poured out her heart.
The Bible talks a lot about the condition of our hearts. After all, our hearts are the place where our character is built, and the place where everything we do and say flows out of. “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” Luke 6:45
“Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” Psalm 37:3-4
When we read this verse in the Bible, we often look at God like He is our Santa Claus–expecting Him to give us all that we want in this world, whether or not it is beneficial for us, or for His kingdom. God wants to give you the desires of your heart, but more than anything, He wants to transform your heart to become more like His. God isn’t like Santa Clause, He puts new desires in you to carry out His perfect plan and purpose to bless the world through you.
David prays often throughout the Psalms about the condition of his heart. In Psalm 51:10, he pleaded with the Lord saying, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me,” and again in Psalm 139:23 where he said, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.”
David shows us why it is so crucial to spend time with the Lord each day, meditating on His words and allowing them to fill our hearts and minds–changing us from the inside out, as we become more like our Father.
You will know when your heart is changing, because you will no longer only want your own way. You will begin delighting in the Lord (Psalm 37:4) and desire to walk in obedience to Him.
If you’re having trouble with this, ask God for a heart change.
It’s okay to be honest with God when you’re praying–He already knows your heart anyway! Be honest when you’re praying about the way you feel: your fears, your insecurities, or the things you don’t like about yourself. Allow God to wrap His loving arms around you–in total acceptance (even while still flawed!).
This is why His love is so great. We will never be perfect–but we can be perfectly submitted to trying our best!
When your heart starts changing, you will begin trusting that God is good, and that he wants good things for your life (Romans 8:28). You’ll begin trusting that if God “took something” away from you, it is better for you that you don’t have it–at least at this time. Trust God, and rely on Him and His perfect timing for your life.
Lastly, ask yourself, “Do my desires line up with God’s purpose and will for my life? Do the things I want ultimately bring Him glory and honor, or are they just going to glorify myself?”
God wants to bless you, but our true heart’s desire needs to be to honor Him in all that we say and do. That is where we find abundance, blessing and complete joy–lacking nothing!
Allow your heart to be conformed to God’s will, and renewed each day. Come to God honestly, transparently–and enjoy being in His presence.
Some people discourage Christians from bringing God a list of things to do–but honestly, I encourage it. If that is what you need from God today, bring the list! God isn’t afraid of your list. He isn’t afraid of your needs. He LOVES when His children come to Him honestly and transparently.
He’s waiting for you with open arms. When you truly discover what the love of the Father really is, your heart will change on its own. His love is so powerfully real, you can’t experience it without being changed.
Just try it!
XO-
Sabrina
