Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart. (Psalm 119:2)
The word “heart” occurs many times in the Bible. It is used physically and symbolically with spiritual applications. In its symbolic usage, the word “heart” refers to the innermost character of the individual, what he is really like on the inside, the deepest feeling, the seat of the emotions and the will, the center of the personality. It is the real person. And God has a great deal to say about Himself and our hearts. God speaks about the wicked heart (Jeremiah 17:9), the wandering heart (Hebrews 3:7-19) and the whole heart (Psalm119:2). Let’s look at the whole heart.
When we place our trust in Jesus Christ personally for salvation, God gives us a “new heart.” Salvation produces a sense of “wholeness” – the whole heart. God does not remove the old heart; nor does God take away the old nature. But God gives to the believer a new heart with a new nature, a nature that is whole, at peace with God and possessing amazing spiritual potential.
“Wholeness” is produced by the divine act when saving faith in Jesus Christ is experienced by the believing person.
Jesus, then, becomes the center of our lives around Whom our decisions and choices are made. If He is not in His right place, then our choices may not be what they ought to be.
I recall when our children were small, we were visiting my husband’s parents. Their grandfather had an old tent supported by a center pole. The children loved to play in it. But one day, as they were playing inside the tent, one of them hit the center pole, knocking it down and the tent collapsed on them amid many shouts. I have often reflected what a parable that was. When Jesus is not the center of our lives to give wholeness to our hearts, our lives can collapse. It is He Who gives life meaning and purpose.
As we make Jesus the center of our hearts in all of our choices and actions, He will guide and direct our steps. As Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, Trust in the Lord with all your heart…and He shall direct your paths.
Joy Hubbard
Writer for “Real Victory for Real Life”
365 Devotional Thoughts in the Spirit of America’s Keswick
VOLUME 2
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