You can only suppress it for so long. The heart, or more so the soul is a mysterious thing. It always tells you out. I was just talking the other night with a great friend about how I was going to deal with a situation that I have recently encountered, and as I talked about it, the person pointed out that maybe I should handle it in a different way. Now, to be clear, I was only joking in the way I said I was going to handle it, but the fact remained the same, I wanted to deal with it the way I was joking. (Hopefully that makes some sense?) So today I was reading the passage in Matthew where Jesus tells people what defiles a person. He says that its not what goes in (for that passes through the stomach and out the other end,) but what comes out our mouths. He says that what comes out is from the heart, and the heart is what makes one clean or unclean. The heart is what matters most. Why is it adultery when you think about how attractive that girl who just walked by is? Because its not the action of doing something physical, its the thought of it. Your heart defiles you, and gives you away. I have realized this again. Reading this today has hit a cord. Do I long for God to purify my heart, or do I just give lip service occasionally by washing my hands before I eat? This today has lead me to pray for and to fast upon my heart being purified of what is unclean. Listen to what Jesus is saying to not just the Pharisees, but to His own disciples and to us today.
"But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander." Matt. 15:18-19
Now I know that after one day of fasting and praying, I will not be cured of all evils of the heart, but I do know that when we cry out to God (with a sincere heart,) He hears us, and answers us. And so I pray and fast that God may point out to me issues I need to address, and that I may grow closer to Him in the process. I encourage anyone who may read this to pray and see if God may want you to do the same. Just for a day, or a week, whatever. But I do believe that if done in humbleness and sincerity, God will move in our lives and we will be closer to Him for it.
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7
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PROVERBS 3: 1-13
(6:In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7:Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.)
1 PETER 5:
6 So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.
7 Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.
8 Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.
10 The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ (Jesus) will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little.
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