Day 16: Heart Matters

Reading: Proverbs 2:1-11

What we put into our hearts and minds is what we typically get out. In Proverbs, we read to pursue God's Word and wisdom as if we're seeking silver. When we do these things, we'll build up our hearts in a wonderful way, and the outflow of our decisions and our hearts will be great.
The main thing you can do to get wisdom and a pure heart is to embed God's Word into your life everyday. Getting into His Word can be hard when you are trying to get other things done and have other things to do, but it should be a priority in your life. You can also start by not watching TV shows that are trash or listening to filthy music. What you put in is what will come out. The decisions you make will be influenced by the people you surround yourself with and the stuff you put into your heart and mind. Give the Word a try. See what the transformation is in your life because of it.

Do you have a set time to read the Bible everyday?




What does the outflow of your heart and life decisions look like?




Reading: Matthew 12:22-45

Again, we read about how our hearts affect our lives. Jesus says that the thoughts we think will be the words we say - the outflow of our hearts. What we put in, is what will come out. Jesus compares it to a tree that bears fruit. If you have your roots in the good stuff and in the wisdom that God provides, you will produce good fruit in life. But a life that is rooted in worldly stuff that only taints your thinking and causes you to do things against God, you will produce bad fruit in life. Jesus says those who are producing good fruit are working for Him, and being a light to the world around them. However, those who are filling their lives with junk and the things of this world will get nothing but this world, and are working against Him.
Again, this goes back to what we put into our lives and our minds. Music? TV shows? Movies? Books? Friends? Boyfriends? Girlfriends? It all will be accounted for one day, and will come out eventually. What your heart is fond of is an indicator of which side of God you're working on. Be careful with what you put in, for it will soon come out.

What kind of fruit are you producing in your life?



What is something you need to cut out of your life that is causing you to work against God?




Reading: Genesis 32:1-33:20

Our hearts will determine the kind of people we are in our attitudes. Jacob had always been a taker up to this point in his story. But after he realizes he was going to meet with his brother again and he wrestles with God in prayer, and literally wrestles with God, we see his heart begin to change. No longer does he feel entitled to everything, but he is humbled and gives to the brother he once cheated to get what he wanted.
The problem with our world today is that everyone feels entitled. This sense of deserving is tearing apart relationships. Like Jacob, we need to humble our hearts and wrestle with God about our problems, and allow Him to make our hearts new. What we put in, is what will come out of our hearts. We don't deserve anything in this life. When we think we deserve anything, we tend to put ourselves above others, and relationships have a hard time standing in those conditions. But when we are humble and put others before ourselves, that is when our hearts are softened and can grow relationships. We see a powerful mending between Esau and Jacob because of Jacob's humility and change of heart.

How do you approach everyday life? As if you deserve something, or have something to give?




What is a relationship that can be mended if there was just a humbling of the heart?




Our hearts say a lot about us. We can try and hide our lives all we want, but the truth is whatever is in our hearts will be revealed sooner or later. We need to keep watch on what we put into our lives and minds as that will be what guides our hearts and decisions. Things like music, friends, shows, movies, boyfriends, girlfriends, etc, can really influence how we go about life. Facing everyday as if you have something to give rather than you deserve something is the attitude that can mend relationships. Guard what goes in, because it will affect the outcome of your life.