BLESS YOUR HEART

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

Moving from the north to the state of Texas brought several adjustments. Most of those adjustments weren't negative in nature but there was one thing that became too over used. It seemed like no matter what might happen in one's life, you would often hear the same statement...”Well, bless your heart.” Whether good, bad or indifferent the circumstance, someone would invariably make that statement.

Through the years I've come to know that the heart is a very vital organ in one's body....a hollow muscular organ that pumps blood through one's circulatory system. Those facts are not new. Many if not most times a reference to the heart can mean having very deep positive feels for someone or something.

Many times in the Old Testament we can find admonitions regarding our spiritual hearts. Often we read of some negatives...the heart is deceitful, wicked, hard at times and on it can go. However, where there is a negative reference to one's heart, close behind is usually a word of encouragement and how God can step in helping us deal with those negatives.

Jesus spoke of the heart in the beatitudes where He said, “Blessed are the pure in heart....” He comforted His disciples in John 14:1 as He encouraged those men in His latter earthly days to not let their hearts be troubled with an added answer to that care of theirs.

We see the heart of God as He views our hearts in Ephesians 3:17-19 showing God's desire for our hearts:

...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;

that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

may be able to comprehend with all the saints

what is the width and length and depth and height---

to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge;

that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

That's the heart God wants for each of us...a heart for Him and others.

Father, give me that heart to love You with abandon while loving those/what You love. I can't have that kind of heart without You working that in me. Thank You. In honor of Jesus' heart for me...Amen