The Heart of the Matter is the State of the Heart

The heart of the matter is the state of the heart.

What does that mean? No, it is not intended to be a play on words, a tongue twister, or a philosophical mind puzzle game. It has nothing to do with my recent heart surgery from which I am recovering very nicely. I’ve moved on. I will say that this is perhaps the most important article/post that I have ever written to date. Certainly, it has been the most difficult to write.

It would seem at first glance that the concept that I wish to share is so complex that the English language goes bankrupt attempting to convey it through the written word. That being said, I have found it necessary to render the whole thing down to its barest essence and even at that I wonder if I have conveyed the entire revelation completely. No, I fear that I have not but for now, with the constraints given within a single post, I suppose it will have to do. It gets deep. Real deep. Real deep…real fast. I will attempt to spare you from the boring fluff and deliver the meat and potatoes.

First, we must set some definitions so that we all remain on the same page.

Man is a spirit. Man is not these bodies that we perceive and experience in the everyday physical realm. Bear with me. Man is a SPIRIT who has a SOUL which includes intellect, emotion, and free will. The SPIRIT and SOUL live in a FLESHLY BODY. Man is a SPIRIT who has a SOUL and the SPIRIT and SOUL live in a BODY.

The HEART of a man is the joining factor between the SOUL and the SPIRIT with the primary roots planted in the SOUL. It is the STATE of a person’s HEART that dictates the heart of any MATTER or CIRCUMSTANCE. In other words, the state of YOUR heart will DICTATE the OUTCOME of YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES. Please don’t miss this. It is IMPORTANT! This can not only change your life and your outlook on life but it can change the lives of your family and those who are within your realm of influence.

The spirit and the flesh wrestle with one another and it is the HEART of the soul and spirit that overcomes the flesh. Paul understood this and taught this concept in Galatians.

Galatians 5:17 (NASB95) (emphasis is mine)

17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

The flesh all too often overcomes the spirit by listening to the SOUL (intellect, emotions, and free will) that the HEART is rooted in. It is the STATE of the HEART that governs our behavior and words and is the deciding factor whether we act and speak spiritually or fleshly. Don’t believe that?

Proverbs 18:21 (NASB95) (emphasis is my own)

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, (the tongue and the words it speaks has power)

And those who love it will eat its fruit. (That which you speak will be what you eat)

It is the HEART that controls the tongue and the words that proceed from your mouth as well as your thoughts and actions.

Matthew 15:18–19 (NASB95) (emphasis is mine)

18 “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.

19 “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.

Does ANY of that sound familiar to you? It does to me. That is why we have Matthew 6:33 (NASB95) (emphasis is mine)

33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

That segues into Proverbs 4:23 (NASB95) (Again, emphasis is my own)

23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,

For from it flow the springs of life.

The HEART decides the kind of life you will have whether you are a believer in Jesus Christ or not. We guard our HEART because our words well up from our HEART and LIFE and DEATH are in the power of the tongue or the words that we speak. Therefore, it is obvious that the STATE of our HEART is MORE IMPORTANT that the State of the Union Address spoken by our Presidents.

As I prepare to close, I’ll leave you with two other pieces of Scripture. Again, as always emphasis is my own.

Luke 6:45 (NASB95)

45 “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

And finally, Philippians 4:6–7 (NASB95)

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds (your souls) in Christ Jesus.

This is a VERY condensed version of the concept that I am trying to convey. If you can grasp this revelation then your life will change dramatically for the better. I believe that there is indeed an entire book that can be written on this issue and I am in the process of outlining such a project as we speak. I pray that you have understood what I am trying to express.

Until next time, God Bless.

In His Grip,
Lonnie Richardson

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The Heart of the Matter is the State of the Heart

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