Love Guards the Heart

God judges us by our hearts. Not our outward appearance (1 Sam. 16:7). So, it also makes sense that Scripture points to our hearts as the location of our conscience. Paul says in Romans 2:15 that the law is written on our hearts, everyone’s heart, even those who do not know God, because “their consciences bear witness” to God’s law. So, it is therefore so very dangerous to harden our hearts by extinguishing our conscience, by convincing ourselves it isn’t wrong to do something that is against God’s law.  It is so extremely dangerous to be telling ourselves we do not need to repent because it isn’t wrong or that we are going to “do it anyway” because we’ll receive forgiveness later.

“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

God’s offer of forgiveness, mercy, and grace is such good news to us because we can be free from that silencing of our conscience (which I believe is written on our hearts). We can break free from that and have our hardened hearts removed and replaced with a heart of flesh (Ezk. 36:26). We need to guard our hearts (Proverbs 4:23) from anything that can harden it against God’s laws and the Spirit and keep us from feeling conviction of wrong-doing. When something unhealthy to your Christian walk tempts you, it is YOUR JOB (our job) to guard against it. That is your (our) responsibility and it requires daily and constant action on your (our) part. Recognize your unhealthy desires and wrongful motives or hardness of heart, and look to the word of God for the truth. (It’s sets you free, you know, John 8:32!)

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 14:23

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

We can find such joy and contentment from living life by living with the right intentions out of a clean and pure heart. Don’t harden your heart against God’s clear laws and what we know to be right and wrong. Your character comes from your heart, “For as one thinks in their heart, so are they” (Proverbs 23:7).

So, you must take responsibility for setting your heart on godly things and turning your heart towards God and his law. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:23). Invest your time, money, energy into things that please God. Seriously!

Don’t let your emotions, wants, or own desires turn you away from God’s laws and what you know is right and true. If you do this, then God will provide you with lasting contentment that only comes from when we set our hearts on him. Remember, Psalm 37:4 says “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”  That doesn’t mean He will give you whatever you desire, for “the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Take delight in the Lord, and His commandments, keep to them, turn your heart away from selfish gain and worthless things and He will restore, rekindle, and reignite your desires in your heart for Him and his laws (Psalm 119:20).

“My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.” Psalm 119:20