Conditions of the Heart
Check your motives
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (Proverbs 4:23, NLT)
The Condition of our hearts must be a top priority for every Christian, as it influences every aspect of our lives and faith. Matthew 5:8 says that the pure in heart will see God. It’s our responsibility to guard our hearts because each day presents numerous opportunities for influences that can taint our hearts and lead us away from what is pure and pleasing to God. It’s essential to remain vigilant and protect ourselves from these distractions.
Evaluating our motives is an effective way to ascertain the state of our hearts. Motives indicate the reasons behind our actions, which are ultimately more significant to God than the actions themselves.
The heart of our heavenly Father is full of compassion, grace, mercy, and truth. When we surrender our hearts to Jesus, a divine exchange occurs. Like David, we can pray, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24,NIV)
Spiritual growth
How is your growth?
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)
Spiritual growth is a lifelong journey of faith that enables you to become the person God created you to be. The relationship with God develops over time. Moving forward in the right direction takes time, commitment, and conscious effort. What does the Word of God say about Spiritual growth?
1. God continues His work in the life of the believer.
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6, NLT).
2. God prepares the believer through His Word.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT)
3. The believer can grow by meditating on God’s Word.
But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. (Psalm 1:1-3)
Emotional Health
The Bible offers hope for healing.
Emotional healing is crucial for our well-being, offering essential peace and comfort during difficult times. The Bible presents profound wisdom and guidance, serving as a source of strength for anyone seeking emotional restoration.
“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:17-18, NIV) These verses remind us that we can turn to the Lord for help when we feel emotionally shattered. He hears our cries and delivers us from our troubles. God is close to those who are hurt, offering healing and comfort to the brokenhearted. Hope is found in His word.
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29,30 NLT)
In these verses, Jesus extends an open invitation to anyone who feels emotionally exhausted and burdened to come to Him. He assures us that He will provide rest and ease our burdens. By surrendering our emotional pain to Him, we can receive the healing and peace our hearts desire.
Blessings
Blessings through Humility
“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”(Matthew 5:2,3 NLT).
The word “poor” in this verse refers to humility. Those who are humble will recognize their need for God. In God’s kingdom, only humble people will be uplifted in life. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “humility” as “Freedom from pride or arrogance.” Jesus not only preached about humility but also modeled it for us in His life until His death.
The Apostle Paul addressed this in his letter to the Romans. “For by the grace given me, I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” (Romans 12:3, NIV) We must be honest in evaluating ourselves. Comparing ourselves to others can lead to feelings of inferiority or superiority, which are unhealthy. As we humble ourselves before God, He gives us more grace to overcome anything that comes our way.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.” (James 4:10, NLT)