The Heart

Today you must deal with certain realities that include: circumstances, your health, your energy level, your mood, the state of various relationships, others’ attitudes toward you, consequences of others' decisions, maybe certain hints about the future, and perhaps some unexpected curve ball that was just thrown your way.

But there is at least one more really big reality, and that is the state of your heart. Of course, we aren’t talking about that 8 to 10 ounce organ in your chest, but about the heart the Bible speaks of so often.

Proverbs says, “Above, all else guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life” (4:23). Many of the realities we face are not things we can do much about. The saying, “It is what it is” applies to many or maybe most of them. But we can always do something about our heart.

If is prideful, we can face it and become humble. If it is resentful, we can forgive. If it is hard, it can become soft. If it is closed and resistant, it can become open and receptive. We may not control many things, but, with God’s help, we can control where our heart is. We will need to pray with the psalm of David:

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! (Psalm 139:23-24)

Where my heart and yours is today is far more important than our circumstances.