Matters of the Heart

God wants to do a new thing in all of us.  Isaiah 43:18-19 says that wants newness to spring forth in our lives.  But our hearts are where these new things spring forth.  I believe that we are in a season where we have to pay very close attention to the activities and attitudes of our hearts.  Mismanaging the heart equates to mismanaging your life.  Let's dive into the heart issues we need to address and the various "misses" that can lead us astray. 

Proverbs 4:23 says, "Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life." This means we need to be vigilant in maintaining our hearts, just as we would keep our homes or cars clean and well-maintained. A well-kept heart is free from clutter, unprocessed emotions, and unresolved issues. I cannot stress this enough: it's essential to keep our hearts clean because the new things God wants to do in our lives will spring forth from our hearts. When you don’t manage your heart well, you run the risk of not recognizing the move of the Spirit in you.  His movement is what MOVES YOU into your next season.   

Here’s brief checklist that you can use to see if you’re heart is cluttered or not. When you’re heart is cluttered and mismanaged, quite often, you’ll find yourself doing these things:  

Mistaking Opportunities for Mere Coincidence: When we mismanage our hearts, we might mistake God-ordained opportunities for mere coincidences. Regret from past situations can cloud our judgment, making us believe that a divine opportunity is just a coincidence. But a well-maintained heart, where the Holy Spirit resides, can discern the difference between coincidence and opportunity.  You can be so sensitive to His presence that you can recognize Him resting on a moment, a person or and opportunity.  God’s manifested presence on a situation is many times you’re permission to proceed.  Don’t let the loss of hope cripple your discernment when you need it the most! 

Misinterpreting Traumas and Triggers as Leadings: Traumas and triggers from past experiences can mislead us into thinking they are divine leadings. For example, PTSD from a bad business experience can choke our dreams of starting a new venture. It's crucial to dig deeper and not follow our feelings to dictate our movements, as they can be influenced by traumas and triggers. Feelings are fleeting.  They come and go as fast as the wind.  Seek the Holy Spirit's guidance.  This will safeguard you from making carnal decisions. 

Misunderstanding Seasons and Internalizing Pitfalls: Mismanaging our hearts can lead to misunderstanding the seasons of our lives.  Don't mistake a season of preparation as a time to over indulge ourselves. Gluttony is not just a “food sin.”  Gluttony is any overindulgence that we engage in.  Whether it’s tv, sports, video games or eating.  When you misinterpret a season, some times you think it’s time to chill when in fact it’s time to work.  Other times, we might interpret a season of delay as God forsaking us. This misunderstanding can cause us to internalize setbacks and play the blame game. Some days we blame God, other days we blame ourselves, and still some days we get mad any one near us.  When in fact God and other people are not our problem.  Our misunderstanding of the season is the real problem.  This is only leading to condemnation, shame, and guilt. It's essential to process these feelings before the Lord and not let them clutter our hearts and cloud our discernment. 

Mishandling Connections: When we mismanage our hearts, we might mishandle the connections God has sent to help us. This includes our spouses, friends, and mentors. For instance, we might dismiss the wisdom of our spouse or be jealous of a mentor instead of learning from them. It's crucial to handle these connections properly, as they are gifts from God meant to help us grow. 

All these "misses" can indoctrinate us to think the wrong way, leading to negative meditation, erroneous commentary, and false outlooks. A cluttered heart is an undiscerning heart. It makes it difficult to discern God's new season for us. As Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." A pure heart is well-maintained and free from clutter. 

We need to guard our hearts diligently, keep them clean, and be aware of the various "misses" that can lead mislead us. Take a moment to pray and ask God to help us manage our hearts better.  

“Lord, may the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in His sight. We commit to keeping our hearts well-maintained and free from clutter, so we can fully embrace the new seasons God has for us. In Jesus' name, Amen.”