Heart Clean Up

I’ve learned over the years that if I keep things need and tidy as I go, the clean-up process is much easier. This doesn’t apply to my desk. In fact, I’m not great at this in my shop either! I am learning that the most important cleaning that I do every day is inside my heart. I must check my heart to make sure The Lord is leading and in charge of my heart. When I take over my heart, I make a big mess of things.

I was reading in the book of Acts as the church was in its earliest stages of growth that the leaders of the church were more concerned with outward activity than the activity going on inside a person’s heart. It was interesting to watch how they handled believers who meant well, but they were incorrect. Peter speaks to this and later the church in Jerusalem agreed. Check this out…

⁶ So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue. ⁷ At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. ⁸ God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.⁹ He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. ¹⁰ So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? ¹¹ We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 15:6-11 NLT)

I think my daily (maybe minute-by-minute) prayer should be asking the Lord to clean up my heart. I need the Lord to speak into my heart His Truth. I need the Lord to warn me when my heart is vulnerable and in danger. I need the Lord to direct my heart where He wants to lead me.

My heart is the anchor of my soul. I would be wise to pay careful attention to what is going on there. My heart is revealed in my words. My heart is revealed in my actions. My heart is revealed in my thoughts. My heart interacting with other’s hearts is what makes for deep and respectful relationships.  I believe that what is in my heart is based upon my choice for it to be there. I decide what to read and listen too. I decide where to spend time. The old axiom, “Garbage in, Garbage Out”.

I’m so thankful for the Lord’s patience with me.

I’m so thankful for the work God is doing in my heart.

I’m so thankful for His Presence in my heart.

My life looks different to me as well as to others when my heart is clean before the Lord. He shines through me into the lives of others!

Pressing On!

Dwayne