What's In Your Heart?
Posted by Martha Wilson, November 7, 2023
“Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs 3:3
“Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck.” Proverbs 6:21
All dressed and ready to go, I reached for the same necklace I usually wore with the outfit. I typically want to spend less time thinking about the accessories and just getting going. But, a different heart necklace sparkled beneath the others, and I changed it up a bit.
As it hung around my neck, I remembered the day my friend invited me for coffee and creating. She had inherited a large inventory of jewelry items and wanted to share them with me. I was encouraged to choose any locket I wanted and then fill it with tiny treasures that made me smile. I chose a clear heart locket trimmed with silver and a filigree background. Within, I placed a small blue heart, a pink flower, a cross, and my initial M or W. I wore it proudly, remembering the fun day I spent with my friend.
But it seemed that the necklace was no longer just a happy memory and lovely gift; it began to talk to me. If you know me, you will understand that it is not crazy because almost everything in my life becomes a visual, a teaching, a spiritual lesson. I felt the question rise in my thoughts. “What’s in your heart, Martha? You are responsible for what is within your heart. You allow and are responsible for what goes on in your heart. You better pay attention to its contents.”
Proverbs 4:23 immediately came to mind.
“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.”
Another translation says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” This truth sounds very serious because it is critical to our lives. What’s going on in my heart will affect all of my life.
“Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you. “ Psalm 119:11
I’m guessing that you live in a hurry like most people. Who has time to carefully consider the accessories you wear or the condition of your heart? Besides, a heart search takes honesty and authenticity. It can be painful and humbling.
This past weekend, as I spoke for a women’s retreat, the necklace hung around my neck. I talked about some of the things we might find in our hearts. I wonder if any of these resonate with you? Take hold of your heart and ask God to show you what is within, remembering that all of life flows out of what you find in your heart.
A few things that God brought to our attention were: Pride, Fear, Anxiety, Disappointment, Judgment, Unbelief, Offense, Bitterness, Rejection, and Unforgiveness
God longs to fill our hearts with His love, peace, and joy, but when cluttered with these and many other things, we can’t receive His lavish love, nor can we be carriers of His love. Yet John 13:35 says, “By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
After speaking, many women clutched my necklace in their hands. They wanted to see what I had placed in the locket, and they admired the beauty of it. Honestly, it was a great visual for us to “guard” our genuine hearts.
Unlike my necklace, we can easily hide what is within our hearts. We can say beautiful, kind words and even do many acts of kindness. We can respond the right way. We can smile and pretend to others and even to ourselves. But, God knows my heart!
So what do we do with these cluttered and messy hearts? We surrender them to God. We quickly agree with Him when He shows us what is really there. We don’t argue with Him or compare our hearts with someone else. We hold our hearts up to Him and ask Him to forgive and cleanse us. And He is always faithful to answer that prayer.
“Please, Lord Jesus, come search this heart and change me from the inside out. Cleanse me, O Lord, and purify my heart. Fill me with Your word and Your love and shine Your light through me to a dark, lonely world.”
Martha Wilson is a writer, speaker, blogger and co-host of “A Burst of Hope” weekly podcast. She is the founder and director of Touching Hearts Ministries for women. She has led women to pursue an intimate relationship with Jesus for most of her adult life. She is bold, tender, and transparent as she teaches women to embrace powerful Biblical truths. Martha and her husband, Ed, live in Fayetteville, Georgia, and enjoy their blended family of five children, eight grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. You can connect with Martha at: Facebook and Instagram @TouchingHeartsMinistries or listen to the A Burst of Hope Podcast.