YOUR HEART

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The following article was written for a Bible Study for my granddaughter, Ashley, and her husband Jeremey. I believe the message is so important that I have reposted it on my website, Facebook, and later on YouTube I encourage that all that read the post, repost it for the honor and glory of God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit. The message is directed to everyone and the solution is for everyone. The choice is yours. Jesus loves you and so do I  

YOUR HEART

The heart sits at the core of human creation as both our physical life-source and our deepest spiritual center. Biologically, it is the first major organ to function, acting as a twin pump that sustains every cell. Spiritually and metaphorically, (represents) traditions view it as the meeting place of our mind, soul, and emotions.

Biological Creation and Design

First pulse: Life begins with the heartbeat, as the physical engine that circulates blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the entire body.

Complex mechanics: It operates as a dual pump with powerful muscles and valves designed to handle immense lifelong pressure.

Physical anchor: Science shows the heart sends more signals to the brain than it receives, anchoring our physical vitality.

Let us focus what the Bible has to say about the heart. The Bible mentions the heart almost 1,000 times. In essence, this is what it says: the heart is that spiritual part of us where our emotions and desires dwell.

Spiritual and Emotional Center

Core of identity: In many faith traditions, such as biblical views, the heart combines our thoughts, choices, feelings, and conscience.

Seat of connection: It is widely seen as the dwelling place of the soul or spirit, allowing humans to feel love, empathy, and a connection to the divine.

Inner guidance: Spiritual consensus on platforms reflects that the heart acts as an energetic and natural center—often tied to the heart chakra—bridging human consciousness with higher love.

The Bible uses physical body parts as a major metaphor in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, explaining that just as a human body has many different parts (like eyes, ears, hands, and feet) that form one single unit, the community of believers forms the “Body of Christ” where every single person has a unique, necessary function. 

In the Bible, the heart is not just the physical organ that pumps blood. It is the control center of your inner life. It represents your real self, including your thoughts, choices, and feelings.

What the Heart Represents

The Core of You: It is the hidden person inside your body. It is who you truly are, not just what people see on the outside.

The Source of Actions: Your words and actions flow out from what is inside your heart.

The Place of Choice: It is where you decide between right and wrong, and where you choose to trust or reject God.

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Key Themes About the Heart

In the Bible, the heart is not just the physical organ that pumps blood. It is the control center of your inner life. It represents your real self, including your thoughts, choices, and feelings.

What the Heart Represents

The Core of You: It is the hidden person inside your body. It is who you truly are, not just what people see on the outside.

The Source of Actions: Your words and actions flow out from what is inside your heart.

The Place of Choice: It is where you decide between right and wrong, and where you choose to trust or reject God.

In the Bible, God views the heart as the core control center of a person. It is not just your physical pulse, but the hidden place where your thoughts, feelings, choices, and desires live. God looks past outward appearances and examines the true condition of your inner self.

The Natural Condition of the Heart

Deeply flawed: Jeremiah 17:9 says the human heart is deceitful above all things and sick.

Source of wrong actions: Jesus explains in Mark 7:21-23 that evil thoughts, greed, deceit, and pride come from inside a person’s heart.

Easily distracted: Proverbs shows that the heart naturally searches for things to love or worship outside of God. 

God Tests and Knows the Heart

Total awareness: Psalm 139:1-2 states that God knows everything you think and feel before you even speak.

The real test: Proverbs 21:2 says the Lord weighs and tests every person’s motives.

Not fooled by looks: 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds people that humans look at the outside appearance, but God looks directly at the heart. 

God Promises a New Heart

A fresh start: Ezekiel 36:26 says God can take away a hard, stubborn heart and give you a soft, living heart.

A clean spirit: Psalm 51:10 is a prayer asking God to create a clean heart and renew a right spirit inside you.

Guarding your choices: Proverbs 4:23 tells you to guard your heart closely, because everything you do in life flows out of it. 

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Jesus taught that the heart is the core center of human thoughts, motives, and actions. He stated that evil deeds come from within a person’s heart, urged people to keep their hearts pure and free from worry, and noted that a person’s treasure dictates where their heart rests. 

Source of Actions and Thoughts

Internal state: Jesus said that evil thoughts, murder, theft, and deceit come from inside a person’s heart and make them unclean.

Speech and behavior: He explained that a good person brings good things from a good heart, while an evil person brings evil things from a bad heart. 

Spiritual Condition and Focus

Purity: In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”.

Values and wealth: He warned that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”, meaning people’s loyalties follow what they value most.

Comfort and Peace

Reassurance: Jesus told His followers not to let their hearts be troubled or afraid.

Encouragement: He often told people to “take heart” when facing trouble or when receiving healing through faith.

Since God has emotions and desires, He, too, can be said to have a “heart.” We have a heart because God does. David was a man “after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22). And God blesses His people with leaders who know and follow His heart (1 Samuel 2:35; Jeremiah 3:15).

Tradition

Judeo-Christian: Serves as the inner core of human identity. It houses thoughts, will, and emotions, acting as the meeting place for faith and a dwelling place for God.

Mystical and Esoteric: (eh·suh·tea·ruhk) (Esoteric is hard to understand) Acts as the bridge between the physical body and the eternal spirit, holding the qualities of quiet joy, unconditional love, and deep empathy.

Key Qualities

Center of Awareness: Moves focus away from the busy ego and rational mind.

Source of Virtue: Generates gratitude, compassion, and forgiveness.

Inner Guidance: Offers deep intuitive clarity that logic alone cannot reach.

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What God Sees in the Heart

Deeply flawed by nature: God says the human heart is deceitful and sick on its own, and that evil thoughts and actions start on the inside before they show on the outside. 

Fully known by Him: God searches and tests every heart, knowing your secret thoughts and real intentions long before you speak or act. 

The source of your life: Everything you do and say flows outward from what is stored in your heart, making it the most vital part of your spiritual health.

How God Transforms the Heart

He offers a replacement: Instead of leaving you with a stubborn “heart of stone,” God promises to give you a soft, responsive “heart of flesh” and a new spirit.

He cleanses the broken: When you turn to Him, you can pray like David for God to create a clean, renewed heart inside you.

He asks you to protect it: God commands you to guard your heart with all diligence because it directs the entire course of your life. 

How to Guard Your Heart

Guarding your heart is not about building walls to shut people out or becoming emotionally cold. Instead, it functions like a soldier defending a clean water supply from enemy contamination. You can intentionally protect your heart using these five biblical strategies:

Filter What Enters Your Gates

Control your eyes: Refuse to look at things that fuel lust, greed, or comparison. Psalm 101:3 states, “I will set no worthless thing before my eyes”.

Filter your ears: Limit your exposure to toxic gossip, worldly philosophies, and ungodly advice.

Saturate Your Mind with Scripture

Memorize truth: Psalm 119:11 highlights, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you”.

Displace the lies: Constantly reading and meditating on God’s Word keeps your spiritual defense system highly alert.

Take Your Thoughts Captive

Intercept negativity: Do not let passive thoughts run wild. Challenge anxiety, insecurity, or anger immediately.

Enforce obedience: Practice 2 Corinthians 10:5 by capturing harmful thoughts and forcing them to align with the truth of Christ.

YOUR CHOICE!

deanstuyvesant , , , ,

I did not write this, but I believe it should be passed on. I say this with urgency. The following article is one that everyone should read and maybe read it again. God has given you this life and freedom to make wise choices in hopes that you follow His Instructions.  God’s love for you is so great that He sacrificed His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for your sins. Just ask yourself, would you do that to save someone from eternal death? This is not a subject that you should seriously put off as there may not be another day or opportunity. Just ask yourself, how many times have you made a wrong choice? You can choose not to read this, it’s your choice. Jesus loves you and so do I

There is a tragedy that rarely makes headlines; it is not war, famine, or disease. It is a soul that heard the whisper of God and yet kept living as if they didn’t. Many people feel the tug; they sense it in the quiet moments, in the middle of the night, in the conviction that rises when they know they were made for more. The Lord calls, not always with thunder, but often with a still, small voice… Yet, how many brush it aside, saying, ‘I’ll get serious later; I’ll repent when I’m older; I’ll answer Him when life slows down.’ But life does not slow down; it speeds up

(James 4:14). For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away, a vapor here for a moment, gone before you can grasp it.

And eternity – eternity does not end; there is no clock in eternity, no calendar, no turning back

(Hebrews 2:3). How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?

Notice, it does not say ‘reject with hatred’; it says ‘with neglect.’ You do not have to curse God to be lost; you simply have to ignore Him.

In Matthew 22:14, it says, ‘For many are called, but few are chosen.’

Many are called; the invitation goes out wide; the Spirit convicts; the Word is preached; the tug is real, but few respond with surrender.

Mark 10:21-22 says the rich, young ruler walked away sorrowful;

he felt the call; he stood face-to-face with truth, and still, he walked away; he chose comfort over calling. How many are doing the same today?

Jesus warned in Matthew 16:26, ‘For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?’

You can build a career; you can gain applause; you can fill your life with distractions, but if you silence the voice of God long enough, your heart grows dull; conviction becomes easier to ignore; the call becomes quieter, not because God stopped speaking, but because the heart stopped listening. Today, there is mercy, grace, and opportunity.

Second Corinthians 6:12 says, ‘Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation,’

not tomorrow, not when it’s convenient, but now. Eternity is not a theory; it is a reality. Jesus spoke more about hell than anyone in Scripture because He did not want a single soul to go there. God is not willing that any should perish (Second Peter 3:9), but He will not force a heart that refuses Him. This life is a breath; eternity is forever. Do not trade heaven for temporary pleasures; do not silence the call that is trying to save you; do not let neglect become rejection. When God calls, it is not to control you; it is to rescue you

(John 10:10). It is to give you life more abundantly; it is to prepare you for a kingdom that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28). If He is tugging on your heart, that is mercy; answer Him, because one day the call will stop, not because God’s love ended, but because time did. And when time closes, eternity opens. Choose wisely.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY

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There are so many Bible verses that we should pay attention too. I believe that much of our relationship with God has to do with what and how we connect with God. How are you worshipping God? Is it the correct way? According to the following, John 4:24, the Bible tells us the correct way. God gave us a spirit for a reason. Could it be so we are able to connect with Holy Spirit? The Bible is so important, but we have to read and study it. God loves us so much that He gave us instructions. We need to listen to what He says.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY – January 13, 2026

John 4:24 “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth,”

A key verse from Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well that emphasizes authentic, heartfelt, spiritual devotion over specific physical locations or rituals. It means worship should come from your inner self (spirit) and be genuine, honest, and align with God’s revealed character (truth), not just outward performance.

Key Meanings

  • God is Spirit: God isn’t limited to a physical place like a temple; He’s non-physical and omnipresent.
  • Worship in Spirit: Worship should be internal, sincere, and from your heart, not just ritualistic actions.
  • Worship in Truth: Worship must be genuine, authentic, and aligned with God’s nature as revealed in His Word (the Bible), not false ideas or pretense. 

Context

  • This verse resolves the debate between Jews and Samaritans about the proper place to worship (Jerusalem vs. Mount Gerizim) by shifting focus from where to how.
  • It highlights Jesus seeking authentic, deep connection with people, even those considered outcasts, showing God desires our true selves. 

John 4:24 means true worship of God, who is Spirit, must be sincere, genuine, and from the heart (in spirit) and based on reality and God’s Word (in truth), rather than being tied to specific physical places, rituals, or outward ceremonies. Jesus taught this to the Samaritan woman, emphasizing that God seeks worshippers who connect with Him personally and authentically through the Spirit, not just through tradition or location.

Key aspects of John 4:24:

  • God is Spirit: 

God is not limited by physical form, time, or place; He is transcendent and spiritual. 

  • Worship in Spirit:
  • Comes from the inner being, the heart, and the deepest part of a person. 
  • Requires being indwelt by the Holy Spirit and genuinely seeking God. 
  • Involves sincere, earnest, and devoted worship, not just going through motions. 
  • Worship in Truth:
  • Is based on the reality of who God is, revealed in His Word (the Bible) and through Jesus (the Truth). 
  • Means worshiping honestly, without hypocrisy, and with a transparent heart. 
  • Is in harmony with God’s nature and will. 

In context (Jesus and the Samaritan woman):

  • Jesus was correcting her belief that worship was confined to a specific mountain (Gerizim) or the temple in Jerusalem. 
  • He conveyed that God isn’t confined to a building; rather, He is Spirit and seeks worshippers who connect with Him internally. 
  • True worship moves beyond geographical boundaries to a personal, spiritual relationship with God. 

TWO CHOICES, YOURS OR JESUS

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Two Choices, Yours or Jesus

I want to point out something that I believe is very important. There are two words that appear over 200 times in the New Testament. Apostle Paul used the two words more than 160 times representing a deep spiritual union.

The two words are found around 40 times in the Book of Ephesians. Paul uses these words to describe what he believed was an important theme in his writings. Paul not only felt being near to Christ, but being united with Him, like a branch in a vine or a limb in a body.

You can find related Bible verses in Colossians 2:6-7, Galatians 3:28, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 8:1, and John 15:5.

Also, Paul uses the two words to describe a believer’s union with Jesus representing identity, salvation, and a new life. The exact numbers vary by Bible version such as KJV, NIV, etc.

The two words are “in Christ,” “in Him,” and “in the Lord,” or similar verses with the word, “in.”

In reality, being “in Christ” is the fundamental description of a follower of Jesus and a participant of Christ divine life.

To be “in Christ” means we have accepted His sacrifice as payment for our own sins. No amount of self-cleansing can make us pure enough to be forgiven and have a relationship with a Holy God (Romans 3:10-12).

A Divine Exchange takes place at the foot of the cross: our old sin nature for His perfect one (2 Corinthians 5:17).

To enter the presence of a holy God, we must be hidden in the righteousness of Christ. To be “in Christ” means that God no longer sees our imperfections; He sees the righteousness of His own Son

My question is, are you “in Christ,” fully, maybe part way, or nor at all? We need to be careful how we respond to Jesus for He warns about being like lukewarm water as He will spue you out of His mouth, Revelation 3:15-16

In essence, being “in Christ” is the fundamental description of a follower of Jesus, representing identity, new life, and participation in His divine life.

There are dire warnings about our how God will deal with our relationship with Jesus. Yes,  God and Jesus are all about love. They want everybody to follow their instructions by their own free will, their choice, and receive their love. The book of instructions (the Bible) is for your help in making the right choice. It is not for God to make the right choice, (He already did) it is yours.

Jesus loves you and He showed His love on the cross.