Filthy Heart

“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6 (NIV)

 

The Bible has a lot to say about our thought patterns.

I believe with all my heart that God is more concerned with our heart condition than even we are.

Scripture is filled with countless words of counsel regarding how we should think; what we should allow our thoughts to center on; why we need to have our minds governed by the Spirit; where it is we can find the necessary tools for mind transformation and yes, mind alteration ☺️ and when it is the process should occur.

Paul to the church in Corinth stated that if any man (woman, boy or girl) professes to be in Christ, they are classified as a new creature, old things are passed away and behold, all things are made new.

Let’s dissect.

The thought patterns of a “converted” Christian should not be the same as a heathen. Once Christ has been invited to rule our lives, it is expected that our outlook on life is different, “new” as Paul put it. The way we governed our affairs before Jesus entered should now be centered and propelled and by the Word of God.

It is all too easy to fall into a cycle of not seeking God. It is even easier to allow our past experiences to mould and shape the way we daily live our lives; our carnal minds are wired to believe we are able to make it on our own. In fact, once we neglect to allow Christ to be the King of our lives, we end up becoming our own kings/queens and ruling our own domains using the ungodly things which have shaped us to order the directions of our present steps.

The Bible reminds us that the steps of the godly are ordered by the Lord. How can we know the steps He has prescribed if we don’t stop to listen or even acknowledge that we need His leadership?

We need to daily, even minutely ask Holy Spirit to search our hearts and reveal the wicked ways. Note I did not say “any” wicked ways, I said “the” wicked ways indicative of the fact that we all, yes, even you my friend, have some wicked way in the crevice of your heart. Only God is Holy and none of us have achieved that status just yet. We are all pressing toward the mark of perfection that can only be attained through Christ Jesus.

Once Holy Spirit begins revealing these wicked ways, we need to sincerely ask God to create within us clean hearts. Far too many of us feel as though we can undertake the supernatural task of cleaning our hearts and becoming new all on our own. Wrong. Only the power of God can bring deep, lasting change. We are unable to make new what years of the enemy’s influence has made wrong.

Jeremiah reminds the children of Israel and us by extension that the heart is desperately wicked, not even plain ole wicked, DESPERATELY. Ouch! I don’t think I’ve ever heard the word wicked described as such.

We must fumigate our hearts through the chemicals given to us by Holy Spirit. We must allow Him to come in and rid all the insects of strife, the bugs of contention, the mold caused by the world’s lies and the toxicity left by the enemy’s deceit.

If we want lasting change we must earnestly ask Christ Jesus to enter and rule our hearts; continously surrender to Holy Spirit’s leading and consistently meditate and obey the Words of life.  Our agendas must take a back seat in order for Jesus to be glorified.

Finally, my brethren, whatsoever things are true, pure, honest, virtuous, praiseworthy, honorable, noble, righteous – we must think on these things.

Advertisement