Vance K. Jackson leads readers in this powerful heart transforming devotional. Let God examine the ground of your heart. Choose to submit to His Word and Counsel. Only God can intimately understand, weigh and judge the heart of man. Only His Word can sift through the intentions and motives of the heart. Let go of the past and let God heal you. Let His Word every aspect of your heart.
Vance K. Jackson
Day 1
Scriptures: Proverbs 19:21, 1 Samuel 16:7, Hebrews 4:12
The Heart of Man
There are many devices in a man’s heart. According to Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word for “Devices” is, ‘machashabah’ (H4284) which means, “Thoughts, plan, purpose or invention.” Man has many thoughts, plans, goals and inventions that consume him daily. Only God knows man’s heart. Only God can intimately understand, weigh and judge the heart. Only His Word can sift the heart’s intentions and motives.
Man can say one thing with his mouth, but his heart may say another. God weighs and judges the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 KJV states, “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” God examines the heart. God weighs the heart. Learn to examine the fruit of man’s heart by weighing it with the Word of God. Study the inward parts of man by examining his heart by discerning his fruit. His fruit will expose his motives.
As time passes study his ways, actions and desires. Examine a man’s fruit, patterns and ways over the course of time. Examine how he behaves under various circumstances. Consider how he responds under pressure. Examine his heart by asking God to reveal his or her motives and intentions. Weigh his heart by aligning it and comparing it with the Word of God. Examine to see if his heart follows after God’s Way of doing things. Surrender to God and let His Word speak to you concerning the heart’s, motives, intentions and plans of others.
Choose to allow God to keep your hands clean and your heart soft and pure. A harden heart can pervert your judgement. A bitter heart can block your perspective. A fearful heart can block Godly relationships. A thorny heart can choke your viewpoint. Choose to see people through the eyes of Christ. Choose to love people and let love weigh the heart of others accurately. God is Love. Love corrects. Love builds up. Love forgives. Let Love be your guide. Let Love be your foundation. Let God lead your heart through Love.
Day 2
Scriptures: Proverbs 19:21, Jeremiah 17:9, Matthew 18:21-22, Luke 6:41-44
Nevertheless The Counsel of the Lord.
“There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.” Proverbs 19:21 KJV
According to Strong’s Concordance the Hebrew word for “Counsel” is, ‘etsah’ (H6098) which means, “Purpose or advice.” Nevertheless the counsel or advice of God supersedes the opinions of man. Seek God. Seek His Way of doing things. Only God can sift and weigh the matters of the heart. Let God lead you in all things. Let God direct your heart. Let God weigh your intentions. Let God sift your motives. Let God sift your heart.
Jeremiah 17:9 KJV states, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Are you functioning out of fear? Are you functioning out of hopelessness? Is there a residue of resentment laced within the infrastructure of your heart? Are you bitter about a past experience? Are you entangled by the bondage of the past? Before you examine the heart of others, consider the condition of your heart. Weigh your plans, motives and the ground of your heart against His Word. Before you weigh the heart of others, consider and weigh your own heart with the Word of God.
Are you examining the heart of others through the framework of fear? Are you examining the situation through the stain of rejection? Does pride keep your heart hardened and entangled? Use the Word of God to guide your heart before you are quick to judge another.
Matthew 18:21-22 KJV states, “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” Forgive daily. Continually wash your heart with His Word. Stay in a place of forgiveness. Posture your heart to forgive freely and frequently.
Luke 6:41-44 AMPC states, “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye but do not notice or consider the beam [of timber] that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Brother, allow me to take out the speck that is in your eye, when you yourself do not see the beam that is in your own eye? You actor (pretender, hypocrite)! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. For there is no good (healthy) tree that bears decayed (worthless, stale) fruit, nor on the other hand does a decayed (worthless, sickly) tree bear good fruit. For each tree is known and identified by its own fruit; for figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor is a cluster of grapes picked from a bramblebush.”
Day 3
Scriptures: Psalms 119:105, Deuteronomy 4:24, Hebrews 4:12
His Word Shall Stand.
Let God’s Word stand on the throne of your heart. Let His Word take precedence and dominate every area of your life. Let His Word feed you daily and lead your path. Psalm 119:105 AMPC states, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Let the Word of God reprove you and prune you. Let His Word teach you how to handle the heart of others. Let His Word mature your heart. Let His Word develop you. Let His Word strengthen you and cause you to stand through the storm. Let His Word consume every aspect of your life. Deuteronomy 4:24 KJV declares, “For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.”
Let His Word stand beyond man’s opinion. Let His Word stand above platforms. Seek God before you pursue an opportunity. Seek God before you consider a platform. Worship God and not the opportunity. Worship God and not the platform. Let His Word stand forever on the throne of your heart.
Let His Word cut through every area of your life. His Word is powerful. His Word is His Counsel and is sharper than any two edge sword. “For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 AMPC