How to Have a Change of Heart
January/February 2023
“They spoke from the heart.”
“Played their hearts out.”
“The heart has reasons that reason knows nothing of.”
“Heart ache.”
“They or it broke my heart.”
“Their hearts swelled with pride.”
“We often protect our hearts.”
“Healthy heart program.”
“Straight from the heart.”
These are all phrases we use when we speak about the heart. Note how they refer both to our inner feelings and how we communicate outwards. They reference our physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional hearts. The heart is somehow the essence of who we are - our core, our center. It holds on the mysteries of how we feel about ourselves, others, or the wider world. It is a collage of our experiences meeting our DNA.
So what or who affects our heart?
Because we are human and emotional beings, our hearts can be negatively impacted by many factors, including guilt, pride, insecurity, shame, anxiety, health issues, the past, childhood, loneliness, failure, comments from others or even the fear of being our true selves. We need successful ways of dealing with our shortcomings and imperfections. If not, then they may slowly and yet inevitably unsettle and trap us. At a deep level we know what a healthy heart and life looks like but we often seem incapable of change.
It may surprise us, but God is very aware of this predicament.
This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God. 1 John 3:19-21 (NIV)
When we invite God to help us deal with our damaged heart we begin the journey of becoming more of the person that God created us to be. Consider letting God's love and grace lead us on a road to both changing and healing our hearts. It's a journey worth taking.
Blessings,
Tom