Sunday, October 27, 2013

Matters of the Heart

In my growth group from church we are studying a book called "Change your Brain, Change your Body".  It is my job this week to read the chapter on 'the heart' and report back to the  group.   Since the author is not a Christian and relies on hypnosis and Brain scans to diagnosis mental and emotional and physical problems,  I wanted a fresh look at what the Bible had to say about the Heart.  I studied and looked up tons of verses and I feel like I only recorded a small percent of  what the Bible has to say on our hearts.  Here is what I have compiled.  I hope the ladies like it.  My heart enjoyed writing all of this down, that's for sure.
And as the author says,  'if it warms your hands, then it's good for the brain'.  
My hands are feeling a lot warmer, but so is my heart!!

How the heart works (from the Bible) 

The heart can:  break, tremble, harden, stir or respond.
The heart can be circumcised, thrilled, sick, wayward, gentle,  changed and sad.
We can love with our whole heart, we can pour out our heart, or get a new heart.
Our hearts can be pure…. or evil.
We can lose heart when trouble strikes.
We can keep the promises of God deep within our hearts.
Our heart meditates on the things of God.
We can make music to the Lord in our hearts and praise him with all our heart.
God creates a clean heart in us if we ask.
“My heart may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.”  Ps. 73: 26
“The Lord doesn’t see things the way that you see them.  People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  1 Sam. 16:7
“ I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Ps. 119:11
We can ask God to search our hearts and know our hearts. (Ps. 139:23)  And ask him to guard our heart. (Prov. 4:23)
The heart can be peaceful ( Prov. 14:30) and cheerful ( Prov. 17:22)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding.” Prov 3:4,5
“Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.  (Eph.3:17)
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”  Ps. 37:4
“Be beautiful inside your heart, with a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.”  1 Pet. 3:4
Love each other deeply with your whole heart.  1 Pet. 1:22
Be filled with love that comes from a pure heart.  1 Tim. 1:5
Do the will of God with your whole heart.  Eph. 6:6
Pray for our hearts to be flooded with light, to understand the hope he has given us.  Eph 1:18
A person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.  Rom 2: 29

God knows people’s hearts.  Acts 15:8
Jesus is humble and gentle at heart.  Mat. 11:29
What is in your heart determines what you say.  Mat.  12:34

“Where ever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be also.” Luke 12:34


 Dedicated to my 2 kids:  my daughter who has inspired me to do more stuff outside of my comfort zone and my son who loves a good-deep-hearted-talk!  They have both enlarged my heart in a good way.