In my prior career as a software engineer, troubleshooting was an integral part of the job. This involved getting to the root of the problems so that issues could be addressed appropriately. Failure to adopt this approach diligently and patiently inevitably led to frustration as the issue recurred, wasting time and money.
Just a few days ago, I emphasized and demonstrated the importance of this principle to my son when he was locked out of an account. He wasn’t getting the password reset email and couldn’t understand why. I sent him a test email, but it bounced back with a message stating his inbox was full. After simply deleting several large, unwanted files and emails, the matter was resolved.
You and I were created by God, not only as physical beings. We were given a heart. This heart is not the one beating inside our chest. It’s the seat of who we really are. It is comprised of our intellect – what we think, our emotion – what we feel, and our will – our compulsion to do what we do.
The problems that show up in our lives in the form of bad habits, sinful thoughts, and attitudes are linked to the condition of this critical place. As such, it is essential to address these issues by examining the heart and addressing the problem there.
Solomon understood this, leading to his wise advice in Proverbs 4:23, – Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
The very words that we speak are the result of what is in our hearts. So, the way to fix your speech is to fix your heart. Luke 6:45 says, “…for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
But how do we address the issues that arise from this invisible yet critical place?
- Recognize your original heart condition. We were all born with a defiled heart, which is why we have a sin nature.
- Turn to Jesus for a heart change. We need a spiritual heart transplant that comes through faith in the one who can do it.
- Be aware of the sinful influences that enter your heart. Our hearts are affected by what we see, hear, and do. It’s essential to avoid these things.
- Nurture your heart with God’s Word. We must replace the negative with the positive and wholesome.
- Put into practice the principles God reveals to you. Doing this will lead to a healthy heart.
Just as a physically healthy heart is essential to a healthy life, a spiritually healthy heart is vital to a spiritually healthy life. So, when frustrating thoughts, attitudes, and habits persist, don’t just resort to resolutions and promises. Address the root cause, and an amazing transformation will result.