Daily Devotional – Thursday, November 11, 2021
The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; who can know it?
Jeremiah 17:9 (NKJV)
Adolf Hitler is perhaps the most hated person in history. His wicked actions send shivers down the spines of many decades after the Holocaust. There are other detestable, callous and sadistic individuals, who thrive on impunity, in our societies.
How comfortable would you be if such a person lived next to you every day? How would you react if you realised that this person dwells within you? The prophet Jeremiah calls that extremely wicked and dishonest person your heart or mind.
He says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”
(Jeremiah 17:9). Before you hate other people for deceiving and deliberately hurting you, know that your mind is your most deadly enemy.
The unconverted mind is incompatible with the will of God. It continually imagines and plans evil. Even the good it purports to do is meant to attract praise from the receiver and onlookers.
Our mind deceives us that all is well when we are living in sin. It convinces us that God will overlook our evil behaviour. The heart lies with us, telling us we can live without God. In the end, the human mind alienates us from God.
The Spiritual Surgery We Must Undergo
Only the infinite God can “search the heart” and “test the mind”. (Jeremiah 17:10). If we allow God to search our hearts, He will perform an important spiritual operation, as Ezekiel says:
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgements and do them.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
Christianity is about the total conversion of the individual. It entails a complete change of heart; not an improvement of the old one. This process is what we call being born again. The indwelling Holy Spirit is the conversion agent.
When we receive a new heart, our thoughts, actions and words reflect the will of God. Not even our best efforts can result in genuine character transformation. Are we willing to undergo God’s heart surgery?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I know I cannot trust my mind. I surrender my life, my all to You. Give me a new heart.
Can you trust you heart, without Christ? Kindly comment.
Can’t wait to have the heart transplant from God.. ” Creat in me a New heart oh Lord and renew a clean spirit within me”Ps 51:10.
Amen, Charles. I love the way you add value to devotionals by giving an extra verse. God bless you.
Amen ,may we be renewed of hearts .
Sure