Opening Our Minds and Hearts
End the wickedness of the ungodly, but help all those who obey you. For you look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God. God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right. . . . I will thank the Lord because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High. Psalm 7:9-10, 17
Advertisement
Have you ever imagined someone looking deep within your mind and heart? The thought may actually be a little frightening. We don’t typically open our minds and hearts to others. Often we imagine that the thoughts and memories buried there are hidden from everyone else. We determine that no one will ever know what is truly in our hearts or what we are thinking unless we choose to allow it. This kind of thinking is not completely accurate. The psalmist reveals the actual truth. The truth is that God not only looks into our hearts and minds, but he looks deep within. We might as well extend an open invitation to the Lord to search us and know us, for he is already capable of this. Our willingness to volunteer for this access to our private thoughts and to the matters of our heart can help us to keep our hearts and minds pure and true and right. God looks deep within. Welcome this intimacy with him.
Prayer:
FATHER, I invite you into the innermost parts of my heart and mind. Look deep within me. Help me to make daily decisions to keep the door of my heart and mind open to you. Help me to embrace your entrance and searching and to welcome and delight in your presence in every area of my life.
Quotes:
GOD KNOWS US THROUGH AND THROUGH. NOT THE MOST SECRET THOUGHT, WHICH WE MOST HIDE FROM OURSELVES, IS HIDDEN FROM HIM. AS THEN WE COME TO KNOW OURSELVES THROUGH AND THROUGH, WE COME TO SEE OURSELVES MORE AS GOD SEES US, AND THEN WE CATCH SOME LITTLE GLIMPSE OF HIS DESIGNS WITH US, EACH CHECK TO OUR DESIRES.
Edward Bouberie Pusey (1800–1882)
The One Year Bible Readings for today are 1 Chronicles 7:1–8:40; Acts 27:1-20; Psalm 7:1-17 and Proverbs 18:22.
