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HEART CONDITIONS (Ps. 19:12-14) "Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." Like Job, when he endured the trials of the adversary, the integrity of our heart and the fruit that is produced from our lips is what is at stake. For example, when Job's wife gave him that piece of advice that she undoubtedly received straight from the pit, it was a direct plot from Satan to steal what little life Job had left. (Job 2:9) " Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die." The enemy can't curse us if there is nothing of his kingdom in us. So he tries to trick us into bringing a curse down upon ourselves. The enemy knows that the power of the words we speak can bring life or death, blessing or cursing. The fruit that proceeds from our lips can only come from one of three places: Our heart, the Lord, or the devil. It is important that we know which is operating and how we are to handle it. Of course if the fruit is good, bringing forth blessing or life, it is of the Lord. If it is bad, we must discern if we are giving in to fleeting thoughts and thinking out loud or if our heart is heaving up that which is hidden deep inside. The question is: What is the condition of the heart? (Jer. 17:9) "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" That is the reason we fall so easily into the snare of the enemy. Too many times we lean on our own understanding, bellowing out the first thing that comes to our mind when we are confronted with something that moves us to the core - or even worse, we meditate on the subject and roll it over with only our natural reasoning instead of seeking the counsel of the Lord. Our prayer must constantly be: "Lord, lead me in the mind of Christ, try the reins of my heart, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me." By His Word, we know that He wants to. (Jer 17:10) "I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins..." Ultimately our everyday way of living will show what is nearest and dearest to our hearts. As long as we are praying that Jesus Christ have His will in our life, we will see God dealing with the issues of our heart. He wants to set us free from the bondages that come from the lies of the enemy that have settled there with squatters' rights. So when we find our lives being subjected to pressure and when those things that lay hidden in the deepest parts of our inner being manifest themselves through the words that we speak, remember: It is always best to take these issues to the Lord with a repentant attitude. Here are some golden nuggets to help you through when you are in the midst of purging. 1. Don't overreact to changes in this temporary estate. 2. Remember, behind the travail of every affliction is a blessing waiting to be born. 3. Don't let the accusations of the enemy drive you away from God. Instead, let them draw you closer to Him. - KURT THURSTON
July 1996 Newsletter | "I Will Reveal Myself" | Pastor's Journal - July 1995 Snares, Traps and Nets part 1 of 6 | Times of Disaster | Heart Conditions Revised: June 25, 2008. |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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