Just this past week, I went to my Doctor for a physical. The first thing checked was my heart. What was my blood pressure and how often did it beat per minute? Why is the heart such a big deal? Because it is the core of our wellbeing. A bad heart leads to a bleak prognosis, and a good heart leads to a vibrant, healthy life.
Likewise, in the spiritual realm, a good heart leads to life and light, and a bad heart leads to death and darkness. Proverbs 4:23 forewarns us of the importance of the heart in the wellbeing of our spiritual lives, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Even in the ancient days, Solomon recognized that the heart was core to life. The heart to the Jews was the innermost thoughts of our being. It was the foundational core to our spiritual welfare. What we think at the core determines our self-talk, our self-talk determines our emotions, then our emotions determine our behavior and how we treat others.
Proverbs 6:18 describes a heart in such an unhealthy condition that God found it to be despicable. It was “a heart that devised wicked plans” and one of the seven things that He detests. Why? Everything that flowed from this heart was darkness and produced death. The behavior of this heart produced “wicked plans” hurting and defiling many.
Many of these folks are controllers who manipulate others for their own agenda, selfishness, and egotism. In their heart, they have to be in control and dictate their will on others. Guilt, deception, oppressiveness, fear, slander, security, and even wickedness are their tools of manipulation. Whether it is a child, spouse, relative, friend and/or business associate, they have to be in control rationalizing, “I know what’s best for you.” Here is the problem. The power to choose has been taken away. These manipulators have inserted themselves in the place of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Selfishness, self-centeredness, ego, insecurity, and wickedness rule the day. Not only have they in many cases broken the will of a person but have destroyed the spirit of that person. That my friend is wickedness.
Never forget this. God wants all of us to have an independent will with the freedom to choose…all of us! God understood and authored true love which comes as a result of choice not dictation. Co-dependency is incredibly unhealthy and not what God wants.
What are your core thoughts? Are they wholesome, healthy, guided by the Holy Spirit respectful of God or are they of the world focused on “me, myself and mine”, devious, unhealthy, and dark? Cry to god daily the prayer recorded in Psalms 141:4, “Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers.” Ask God to make you whole and He will.
Barnabas Man 