Our good Shepard watches over His flock and knows the thoughts of our hearts:
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.””
Jeremiah 17:9-10 NIV
Jesus knows when our hearts are thinking wrongly and can offer correction:
“Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things?”
Mark 2:8 NIV
Because, with our hearts we can defile ourselves and others:
“He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”” Mark 7:20-23 NIV
Yet, we were created to love Him with our whole heart:
“Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” Matthew 22:37 NIV
To be saved, we must believe in Jesus Christ and His resurrection in our hearts:
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 NIV
In Christ, He will guard our hearts:
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 NIV
Though He knows us, He asks us if we know if our hearts are hardened when we lose faith:
“Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?” Mark 8:17 NIV
Our Lord can harden, soften, and strengthen our hearts.. He knows exactly what we need:
“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 11:19 NIV
These are His words concerning our hearts. We do good to inquire the intentions of ourselves and others by searching hearts and minds. Are our/their hearts of stone? Do our/their hearts contain evil schemes? Are our/their hearts filled with His spirit? By this we will know how to minister to others and ourselves by the truths of our hearts who God Himself created.
Blessings to you, may the Lord reign in your heart today and I pray we all learn when our hearts have hardened, turn to Him, and allow Him to do the surgery to heal us.
You are loved. ❤️
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Colossians 3:15 NIV