God Listens to our Hearts
“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
1 Samuel 16:7
The Lord listens to our hearts and our hearts are reflected by our thoughts. The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. (Genesis 6:5) God knew the hearts of the people because their thoughts were evil all the time. Therefore, we should be aware the Lord listens to our hearts. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5) From this verse, we understand the importance of controlling our thoughts to the obedience of Christ. Christians capture sinful thoughts and replace it with a Godly thought.
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. (Proverbs 16:32 NASB) Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christians learn to control their emotions of anger because he/she is ruled by the Spirit. The Spirit brings God’s love into our hearts and a heart filled with God’s love has control over their emotions. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:2-3) A Christian with a heart filled with God’s love has their mind set on things above and their life is hidden with Christ. The more of God’s love we reflect, the more love pours into our hearts, drawing us closer to God and directing our thoughts toward Him. Our life is hidden with Christ.
Our thoughts are pleasing to God because our hearts are set on things above. A heart filled with God’s love and compassion is centered on God and others, and keeps our minds set on things above. Even when our mind is on worldly things, our mind is still on things above because we view the world through the Holy Spirit.
Today, capture every thought to the obedience of Christ. Be slow to anger and be patient in this fast moving world because it’s so easy to get caught up in this worldly pace.
Prayer: Guide me in the Spirit to capture every thought and set my mind on things above. Fill my heart with your love and compassion and help me to reflect it to everyone today. In Jesus name, Amen