“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” Jeremiah 17:9-10 NLT
In a dark, messy junk drawer, things are hidden. However, just because they are hidden, doesn’t mean they don’t exist. If not tended to, the junk will eventually overflow.
The same is true of your heart. You can’t see what’s inside, but God does, and He wants to clean it.
With warm, salty tears streaming down my cheeks, I was caught off-guard by the deceitfulness of my own heart.
Perhaps you’re like me. You read God’s word, “the human heart is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked,” but don’t believe it applies to you. “She” comes to mind, or “he” comes to mind, but never you.
For months, I faithfully rose before the sun to read my Bible. I fasted faithfully each month. I actively participated in multiple Zoom Bible study groups each week. I attended church regularly. If anybody was an exception to this Scripture, it had to be me.
I wasn’t convinced that when God says the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, my heart was included too.
Can I let you in on a little secret?
You can fool others. You can even fool yourself. You can NOT fool God.
God is aware of every secret motive of your heart.
He knows when you’re disguising gossip as a prayer request.
He knows when you pretend to be happy for a friend, but you’re really jealous.
He knows when you post on social media for the likes instead of to be the light.
He knows when you say one thing, “Congratulations!”, but mean another – “She makes me sick!”
God is after your heart
The day the junk drawer of my heart began to spill over, I didn’t sleep at all that night. Between the tossing and turning, I prayed. I asked, more like begged, God to show me what’s wrong with me.
Unbeknownst to me, I wouldn’t have to wait long for an answer. God was about to speak to me through the internet.
I woke up that morning to an email with a subject that read, “Straining at gnats.” For some reason, I was drawn to this particular email. I opened it.
The point of the email was to demonstrate what legalism does to the human heart. It causes a person to be fault-finding, judgmental, and critical of others. Legalism causes you to focus on small, insignificant matters, instead of seeing the big picture.
This was the answer to the prayer I prayed that long, sleepless night. Legalism had entered my heart without even a hey girl, hey! #rude
Let’s take a look at what Jesus says.
“Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel! What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.” Matthew 23:24-26 NLT
Who wants to be known as the blind guide? The hypocrite?
The word of God convicted me. With my head bowed, I realized I had been the blind guide. The hypocrite. I was straining gnats.
I had become hyper-focused on the outside of the cup – doing good things, instead of the inside of the cup – my heart. My misplaced focus led me to elevate myself, and in turn, be critical of others.
After becoming aware of my tendency to be a legalist, I elicited the help of a friend – who is also a fellow Revelation Wellness Instructor. I asked her to hold me accountable. When the junk drawer of my heart begins to overflow from my mouth with words of criticism and judgment, she responds, “Gnats!”
With just that simple phrase, my focus is redirected heavenward.
The Good News
“Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.” Romans 5:7-9 NLT
Jesus triumphed over your junk!
God saw all the junk in your heart and mine, and He still sent Christ to die in your place.
He loves you, and me, just that much. He meets us where we are, but He never leaves us there.
Rejoice when God reveals the junk. He doesn’t reveal it to shame you, but to transform you. He’s transforming you, by the power of His Spirit, into the image of the very one He sent to die.
Rejoice, brothers and sisters, He’s preparing you for glory!
“Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.” – 1 John 3:2 NLT
Pray with me
Father, thank you for Jesus! We praise you for your great wisdom in making us righteous through Him. Jesus, thank you for your obedience and your humility. God, you meet us right where we are, but never leave us there. Thank you for your great love, mercy, kindness, compassion, and grace towards us. Oh, how you love us! Create in us clean hearts, all for your glory, and the glory of King Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Reflect & Respond: What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you through God’s word?
Tiffany is a Revelation Wellness Instructor from Platoon 19. She resides in Prattville, AL with her wonderful husband Chris, and feisty daughter, Reese Ann. She’s a certified personal trainer, and believe it or not, a professional bodybuilder. She enjoys teaching Revelation Fitness classes at her local church. More than anything, she’s a proud follower of Christ, and extremely grateful for God’s great grace.
Sign-ups close January 6th!
For 21 days we’ll practice inside-out wellness. You’ll learn more than how to just train hard and eat clean because what’s in your heart is more important than what’s on your plate.
This is a challenge to get better; to have your heart searched and ministered to by the One who knows you best and loves you most.
7 Responses
This hit home this morning, thank you for being vulnerable and sharing your own heart!
Thanks for sharing, Callie! We hope you’ll join us for the Clean Hearting Challenge!
Wow! Nothing like being used to speak Truth to the one praying for answers. I, too, have been straining gnats, allowed legalism to infiltrate my heart, and thought myself above others. I’ve prayed, asking God to reveal what’s wrong with me and here it is. It’s time to empty the junk of my heart, surrender it all to Him, and breathe in His grace and mercy. Thank you! Thank you for sharing this today. I’m looking forward to the 21 day Clean Hearting Challenge. It’s exactly what I need.
Thank you for sharing Cindy! God is so good. We’re so glad you’re joining us for the challenge!
Thank you so much for sharing from your heart. I am signed up and looking forward to this challenge.
Yay! We’re so glad you’re joining us in the Clean Hearting challenge!
Glory to God! This is confirmation for what God has been dealing with me this past year. He challenged me to look at myself first, He shows you so can deal and heal. Thats when growth comes. Thanks Tiffany!