The Proverbial Heart

Let not your heart be troubled:
ye believe in God, believe also in Me.
John 14:1

In March I had to go to the Emergency Room because of a reaction to an antibiotic. This happened to me several years ago so knew what was done there in a brief time and was sent home. It just wasn't going to happen that way this time. I had an ER doctor, overly aggressive insisting I had been the victim of a heart attack and he was going to admit me to the hospital. To be honest, I was fit to be tied. I knew I was probably about ten miles away from having a heart attack. It was proved after three days and a heart catheterization that I had beautiful, not damaged heart arteries.

Despite that experience, nothing can diminish my interest in hearts, especially hearts I have found in the book of Proverbs. Much is said in that book about various conditions of our spiritual hearts that might do us well to look at...a kind of heart checkup that won't hurt any of us to review. Let's look at some of the heart conditions, spiritual in nature, that can afflict us if we aren't careful.

Heart That Rejects Reproof (Correction)

And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof. 5:12

We don't like to be corrected. Sometimes it's because of pride or can be because we are on the defensive. However, we learn from correction. It may come in a direct way, by learning from another person's example or through experience of trial and error. The heart of humility will accept reproof as coming from the Holy Spirit through another source.

Heavy Heart

Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. 12:25

This is the person who is depressed or filled with anxiety. Very often it can be noticed that when one is “down” even their posture can be different. The answer is twofold. Dn't worry about something you CAN do something about...just do it. Then don't worry about anything you CAN'T do anything about. See Philippians 4:6

Indiscriminate Heart

The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. 15:2

Even the word “heart” isn't mentioned in this verse, we know that our words come from the heart. This is the person who usually knows the latest gossip and might not hesitate to spread it around. This person is one of betrayal and hasn't learned the importance of discretion and knowing what and what not to say. All of us must remember that everyone has a “best friend.” Even an innocent slip of the tongue can cause great damage.

Proud Heart

An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. 21:4

Most people struggle in this area and it often is recognized for what it is. The proud person is one who is unteachable. Many times, the prideful attitude can be seen in one's face or even in some bodily movements. Pride is that wall that is erected that keeps us from sweet fellowship with God. It's a wall we have to take down. It's not a wall God will tear down for us. Pride was evident in the children of Israel who murmured and complained against God. God brought judgment on them for such behavior. God hates pride. It will keep us from being all God wants us to be.

However, all is not lost. In Proverbs, we also receive some great encouragement

Keep thy heart with all diligence;
for out of it are the issues of life.
4:23

For as he thinketh in his heart,
so is he....
23:7a

The Bible is our EKG. It will reveal to us all areas of spiritual heart trouble. It also gives us good “how to” information in remedying any spiritual heart problems we may have. For our main solution in this area, Psalm 119:11 gives us some great advice:

Thy word have I hid in mine heart,
That I might now sin against thee.

God will never leave us without answers. He loves us down into the very heart of each of us. He desires us to be clean and pure of heart as we see in Psalm 24:3,4

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who shall stand in His holy place?
He that hath clean hands. And a pure heart;
who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity,
nor sworn deceitfully.

Dear Jesus, only because of what You did in dying for each of us can we ever hope to be pure of heart as you were. Holy Spirit, keep convicting and teaching us from Your Word, helping us stay on track. In the precious name of Jesus....Amen