Psalm 33 is one of my favorite psalms. This morning as I was reading it again, this part stuck out to me, and I began to mediate on it: “…He who forms the hearts of all…” (in vs. 15)
The thought came to me about my heart, but not the physical organ of the heart, rather how God defines the life of the heart.
The physical organ of the heart: The heart is the most crucial organ in our body, responsible for delivering blood circulation and nutrients to all parts of the body. It pumps the flow of blood by a network of blood vessels called arteries and veins. But the spiritual application of the heart which separates us from the animals, is
The Hebrew definition or spiritual meaning: the inner man: mind, soul, will, reflection, conscience, understanding, seat of appetites/emotions/passions/courage.
Ecclesiastes 8:11, 9:3, 10:2 talks about the human heart being filled with schemes to do wrong; that it is deceitful in nature, and full of evil intent. Every human being is born a sinner in heart and deed.
The heart is changed by God alone when we repent and ask Him to forgive us by what Jesus Christ did on the cross with His own blood and promise to those who believe in Him. God says,
“I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your hard, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart to Me.” Ezekiel 36:26
“For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.” Romans 5:5
When I reflect on who I WAS before this “change of heart,” I hate that person who lived a sinful life. People like to think that they are “good” for whatever reason that comes from their own pride of false-awareness. God says in His Word that there is NO ONE good, but God.
God (Father, Son and Spirit) is the TRUE GOOD there is. His righteousness and justice the only true righteousness and justice. We can each DO “good works,” but God says that “our good works are filthy rags” in His sight. Good works won’t save us, and they definitely won’t be to our credit in any way when we stand before our Judge at the end of our life on earth. My only salvation and eternal life - is IN CHRIST JESUS alone.
With my new heart, I live a different life than before. I enjoy God's peace in me that surpasses my limited understanding of what is happening. I see people differently than I did before I received my NEW heart. I see clearly now that each and every person needs to personally know Jesus Christ. HE IS the LIFE, and the only life that will count is the life I lived with my NEW HEART.
That people reject His Life, only keeps them living out the old heart’s self-deceiving progressive ways, and with the complete loss of all that is GOOD and permanently fulfilling from GOD.
True wisdom and understanding come from the Holy Spirit. (Isaiah 11:2) No one without Christ's indwelling Spirit has true wisdom and understanding
As I was thinking about the ‘good’ that comes from my NEW heart when Christ poured His Holy Spirit in me, I began to thank God for HIS HEART; that He continually came after me - to make me His child forever!
Romans 5:10-11 “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”
The FRUIT of the Holy Spirit in me, my NEW HEART: is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22)
Therefore, we are commanded to walk by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit so that we do not gratify the desires of our fleshly lusts. This is the inner warring that we must fight till the Lord takes us home. The flesh craves what is contrary to the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to our flesh. They are opposed to each other.
The acts of our sinful flesh are sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft/sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. We are warned that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. That means that because God’s Holy Spirit lives in me I no longer want to live in disobedience to my Father God. I want to please Him out of love and thankfulness for all He has done for me through His Son and Spirit. And even when I sin, I feel guilty in a different way. I knew what I did back then was wrong, but I dismissed that guilt thinking I could keep secret what I was ashamed of. Or, when I did what was wicked, and because I was with others doing the same, our acceptance of each other somehow eased our guilty consciences. Yet, the Bible warns us that if we keep doing this, our conscience will become hardened and seared, no longer feeling any guilt over what we do. That's a scarry thought!
“LORD, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below—You who keep Your covenant of love with Your servants who continue wholeheartedly in Your way.” 1Kings 8:23