What Would the Heart Say?

Daily Bible Verse: Proverbs 21:2 KJV

“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts”. 

No matter what path we choose or decision we make, we often see it as the right one. Yet we continue to engage in behaviors that are harmful to ourselves or to those around us. Why do we do so? In our own mind, we can always justify our ways and convince ourselves that we are correct. Therefore, we continue to take actions that miss the mark. Yet the Lord does not look at rationale or justification. He doesn’t look at our mind and what we tell ourselves about our own actions. No, the Lord looks at what is in the heart. 

If a man lies, he can tell himself he is doing so because he does not want to hurt someone and therefore it becomes justifiable in his mind and in his own eyes. Yet what would the heart say about this if it could speak? The heart might say: I can decide what will hurt another person. I will choose to withhold the truth because I know what this person needs or doesn’t need. I will play God. 

If a man steals because he feels he is in need or deserving of what he takes, he can justify it in his own mind and in his own eyes. Yet what would the heart say about this if it could speak? The heart might say: I am lacking. I don’t have enough and God has not and will not supply my needs. therefore I must take what I deserve. I will play God. 

If a man displays an unkind action against another man because he has wronged him first, he can justify it in his own mind and in his own eyes. Yet what would the heart say about this if it could speak? The heart might say: This person deserves my anger and judgment for what they have done to me. They must suffer just as they have made me suffer. I will play God. 

Ultimately, I believe the Lord ponders our hearts to see whether we have created an idol out of ourselves. Have we taken the reigns and decided what is just, what is right, what is needed? Or will we surrender and allow Him to do the work? We can always explain or justify our own actions and see every one of our ways as right. We are called not to explain our actions with our mind, however, but to question the very essence of our heart.