Psalm 51:9-19 "Hide THY face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O GOD; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from THY presence; and take not THY HOLY SPIRIT from me. Restore unto me the joy of THY salvation; and uphold me with THY free SPIRIT. Then will I teach transgressors THY ways; and sinners shall be converted unto THEE. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O GOD, THOU GOD of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of THY righteousness.
O LORD, open THOU my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth THY praise. For THOU desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: THOU delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of GOD are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O GOD, THOU wilt not despise. Do good in THY good pleasure unto Zion: build THOU the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt THOU be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon THINE altar."
Someone has said, "The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart !" Nothing is more important than the state of our heart. In the physical realm, heart checkups can prevent premature death. In the spiritual realm, the state of the heart is even more vital ! "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23 pictured above). Let us take the following "heart examination" by asking ourselves these personal questions:
1. Whom does your heart serve ? Do you serve the LORD with whole-hearted (not half-hearted) devotion ? "And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the GOD of thy father, and serve HIM with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts. . .If thou seek HIM, HE will be found of thee; but if thou forsake HIM, HE will cast thee off for ever" (1st.Chronicles 28:9).
2. What causes you heart to rejoice ? What brings joy to your heart ? In what does your heart delight ? "The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes" (Psalm 19:8).
3. Is your heart trusting in a great GOD ? "the LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in HIM, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise HIM" (Psalm 28:7).
4. How clean or pure is your heart ? The LORD is eager to restore you to fellowship: "Nothing between my soul and the SAVIOR !" Are you harboring unconfessed sin in your life ? "Create in me a clean heart, O GOD; and renew a right spirit within me" (v.10).
5. Is your heart broken and contrite over sins committed ? "The sacrifices of GOD are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O GOD, THOU wilt not despise" (v.17)
Proverbs 4:14-23 "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."
"Search me, O GOD, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see of there be any wicked way in me. . ." (Psalm 139:23-24 pictured above). We must allow the SPIRIT of GOD to examine our innermost being to determine the state of our heart. Thus, we continue the heart exam we began above:
6. How soft is your heart ? "To day if ye will hear HIS voice, harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness" (Psalm 95:7-9). When we respond in the right way to what GOD says, our heart softens; when we do not, it hardens.
7. What have you treasured up in your heart ? Does GOD's WORD dwell richly within you ? "THY WORD have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against THEE" (Psalm 119:11).
8. What does your heart treasure ? What does your heart find most valuable and precious ? "But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:20-21).
9. What does your heart love more than anything else ? Who is the greatest love of your life ? Who is your "first love" (Revelation 2:4) ? "JESUS said unto him Thou shalt love the LORD thy GOD with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matthew 22:37).
10.What kind of melody is in your heart ? What song does your heart sing ? Does it sing "the song of fools" (Eccl.7:5) or praise to the ONE WHO is altogether lovely ? "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the LORD" (Ephesians 5:19). May we carefully, regularly, and honestly examine our heart. GWZ
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.featoday.org
https://www.fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation
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