“Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart. For I am always aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to Your truth.” (Psalm 26:2-3 NLT)
The function of our heart and mind, at least as it relates to Scripture, is very similar. The same word that’s translated “heart” can also be translated “mind.” However, in the Psalmist’s mind, and I hope in yours and mine, there is a very distinct difference between the two.
Think of an old locomotive that was driven by wood or coal. Think of wood or coal as our mind providing the fuel for our heart to drive the “train.” We take no action without the prompting of our mind. Our thoughts drive our behavior, and our behavior gives visibility to our thoughts. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 23:7: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”
This verse strikes at the heart of motive, why we do something, especially as in the above context, for someone else. But the principle applies to what we do for ourselves as well. Our heart and mind work together to fuel the motives and intents of our life – why we do what we do. The mind conceives and the heart believes and acts upon that which the mind suggests.
That’s why it’s so vital that we feed our mind on things that are positive and good. As Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” These thoughts fuel our behavior; thus, the reason Paul follows verse 8 with verse 9: “Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me – everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
What we think about comes about, so be careful what you “feed” your mind, because the “food” of our mind becomes the fuel of our heart. That’s why the great man of God Charles Spurgeon wrote: “Rest assured, Christ will not live in the parlour of our hearts if we entertain the devil in the cellar of our thoughts.”
We wrongly believe as a Jesus follower we can view or listen to anything, and it won’t have any effect on our walk with the Lord, but that is naïve and just plain wrong. What the mind ponders the heart turns to longing which leads to behavior that far too often is unbecoming of a child of God. On the other hand, when we read and ponder the words of Scripture or listen to songs with Christian lyrics that uplift and inspire, it encourages us and motivates us to live in a more pleasing way for the Lord.
Spurgeon also wrote: “Nearness to God brings likeness to God. The more you see God the more of God will be seen in you.” How do we “see God?” We see Him in nature, but we also “see” Him in Scripture. When we hear a powerful message from God’s Word it shouldn’t simply inspire us to say: “What a great person of God!” Rather, how grateful I am that that person took the time and made the effort to sit before the Lord and let Him teach them from His holy Word. Our response should be: “What a great God revealed through that person!”
We cannot hide, for good or ill, what we’ve been feeding our mind, it will surface in our conversations and in our behavior. Our heart will beat for what our mind believes is most important.
What is your heart telling you? And why?
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 