There is a part of man that lies deep within him, which controls every aspect of his life. The Bible calls this the “heart.” The Biblical use of the term “heart” is comprehensive. The term heart covers the realm of all emotions from love and hate (Ps. 105:25; I Pet. 1:22) to joy and sorrow (Eccl. 2:10; John 16:6) to peace and bitterness (Ezek. 27:31; Col. 3:15); It covers all mental processes from thinking (Esth. 6:6) to reasoning (Mark 2:6), from imagination (Jer. 9:14) to remembrance (Deut. 4:9), and purposefulness (Acts 11:23) to intention (Heb. 4:12); And it controls all character traits such as purity to wickedness (Jer. 3:17; Matt. 5:8), sincerity to hardness (Ex. 4:21; Col. 3:22), and maturity to rebelliousness (Ps. 101:2; Jer. 5:23). The Apostle Peter calls it the “hidden man of the heart” (I Pet. 3:4). The question before is, What are we to do with our heart?

First, we are to “commune with our own heart” (Psalm 4:4). We are to take a good, long, serious look into the mirror of God’s word to see deep into our own soul (James 1:22-26), and to reflect on a host of issues like: are my motives right, am I doing all I can do, is my conscience clean, etc. In short, we are to examine ourselves, and prove our own selves, whether we are in the faith (II Cor. 13:5). Will we be able to do as Paul did when we come to the close of our life, as he did his, and say I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith, I have finished my course, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness (II Tim. 4:1-18)?

Second, I am to keep my heart with all diligence (Prov. 4:23). God created us with a cage (the rib cage) surrounding our physical hearts to protect it from external injury. We regularly watch our diet and exercise to keep our hearts healthy. Why wouldn’t we take at least the same precautions to protect our spiritual heart as we do our physical? The things that come out of an unguarded heart are things like evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies (Matt. 15:9). If we do not guard our hearts they can become blinded (Eph. 4:18) and hardened (Heb. 3:15). Satan can raid the heart (Mark 4:15). We must guard our hearts to keep these tragedies from occurring.

Third, we are not to regard iniquity in our heart (Ps. 66:18). Sin begins in the heart. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lusts and enticed (James 2:14). But lust is clearly a function of the heart (Prov. 6:25; Matt. 5:28). If a man will be good, therefore, he must not regard iniquity in his heart (Matt. 12:35; Mark 7:21). We need to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report (Philip. 4:8). What do we watch on television? What kind of music do we listen to? What sites do we visit on the internet? What places do we physically frequent? If we continue to regard iniquity in our hearts, how can we expect God to hear us when we cry unto Him (I Pet. 3:12).

Fourth, we are to love God with all our heart (Matt. 22:37). That the heart of man is not the mind or the soul or the strength of man is evidence because Jesus separates them in this statement. But it is evident also that God is not pleased with half-heartedness; He does not like lukewarmness (Rev. 3:15,16). Mere half-hearted efforts at service are to no avail (Hos. 10:2). God does not want feigned service (Jer. 3:10) but a heart prepared to serve (II Chron. 20:33).

Fifth, we should sanctify God in our hearts (I Pet. 3:15). This means God should have a place in our hearts unparalleled by any other one or thing. Jesus said we should seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33). Do I sanctify God in worship by being there for worship every time the doors are open (Heb. 10:25)? Do I sanctify God in my speech, keeping my tongue pure and being prepared to talk to others about Christ (Col. 4:6)? Do I sanctify God in my manner of dress, so that I bring glory to God and do not seek merely my own comfort (I Tim. 2:9,10)? Does God have a special place in my heart?

Sixth, we should trust in the Lord with all our hearts (Pro. 3:5). Do we really trust in God? Really? When things don’t seem to be going like we want them to, or like we think they should, do we continue on the course that God wants and has commanded? Or do we, like the children of Israel coming out of Egyptian bondage, grow restless with God’s pace of advance? Do we, like Sarah, in giving Hagar to Abraham, try to force God’s hand? (How did that turn out?) Do we have the attitude of our Lord Who, when He faced the agony of the cross, prayed “Not my will, but Thine be done” (Luke 22:42)? It is not easy, because we would rather trust in weapons (Ps. 44:6) or wealth (Ps. 49:6,7) or men (Jer. 17:5). If we acknowledge Him in all our ways, He shall direct our paths (Prov. 3:6).

Seventh, we must believe in the Lord with all our heart (Rom. 10:10). This belief is not a blind leap in the dark, but rests upon solid evidence (Rom. 10:17; Heb. 11:1). This is the kind of faith that God rewards when it causes one to diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6). To have it otherwise is to be unpleasing to Him. This is the kind of heart that leads to obedience (Acts 8:37).

Finally, we must obey from the heart (Rom. 6:17). Going through mere ceremony does no good (John 4:24). When our obedience comes from the heart, it comes from the deepest part of man, the part of man that controls all of life, and it is then and only then that the obedience is genuine and effectual. We may be able to fool men by our actions, but God knows our hearts (Acts 1:24; Rev. 2:23). We cannot mock God (Gal. 6:7). On the first Pentecost after our Lord’s resurrection, when the assembled masses heard the word of God, they were pricked in their hearts (Acts 1:37). Their heart was not a stone, wherein the word could not send forth deep roots, but was tender enough to receive the truth. What about our heart? Is it hardened or is it receptive to God’s word? Have we truly obeyed from the heart?

Eric L. Padgett