Writing out this title This wicked heart of mine makes me cringe, I feel like it’s not true. I mean, is my heart really wicked? Or am I just exaggerating?

I don’t think I am exaggerating even a bit for two main reasons: 1. The Bible tells me so; and second, I know myself and my heart and what goes in there. How does the Bible tell me that my heart is wicked, you ask?

“The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9

“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of thoughts of his heart was only evil continually”. Genesis 6:5

“For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person”. Mark 7:21-23

Besides the fact that these Bible verses show us how wicked our hearts are, if you are honest enough with yourself and God? Would you be so willing to bare your heart for everyone to see what goes in there?

Oh Lord, I am in sorrow for all the pain I caused You on the cross. I know now that it was all for me. For me. You foreknew my heart’s wickedness but still You pursued and still pursues me relentlessly. I never think I deserve it but somehow You always pull me close. Thank You! Thank You!

But what do you honestly do when you are tired of your hearts’ wickedness? Is there anyone bold enough to answer? Or anyone wise enough to tell me? Anyone who thinks he has his heart “health” in check?

I am sincerely asking because I’m tired of hurting the One I love.
I am sincerely asking because I’m tired of hurting the One who smiles every time I wake up.
I am sincerely asking because I’m tired of hurting the One who loves me more than anyone ever will. 

First things first: Repentance.

Why don’t we practice repentance often? John the Baptist had one and only one sermon “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand”, that’s all he mainly ever preached.

Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

He said the same words over and over again. Because you know? We never stop falling and failing and we need to always come back at His feet to be washed clean again and again!

Repentance is really important for this reason: We cannot have all of Jesus in our hearts if our hearts are just full of idols and wickedness that are left unchecked!

John the Baptist had one purpose on this earth, to “prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight”. Mark 1:3

And by God’s grace, he successfully accomplished his mission.

Lord, I pray that we never stray away from our purpose. Always remind us that we can never be what everyone wants us to be; we can either choose to be what You created us to be or we can follow people’s advice of who we are supposed to be, because the truth of the matter is, it can’t be both.

Father, give us strength to always, always walk on the path You paved for each one of us!

But how did John the Baptist prepare the way of the Lord?

John appeared, “baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins”.  Mark 1:4-5

You want a pure heart? Start with this: Repentance.

We want more of Him, so we will start with repentance.
We want to do His will, so we will start with repentance.
We want to see Him, so we will start with repentance.
We want to be everything He called us to be, so we will start with repentance.

“Our Lord and master Jesus Christ willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance”. Martin Luther

God willing, we will continue to explore ways to have a pure heart because after all? Only the pure in heart will see God! “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”. Matthew 5:8

Finishing off today’s post with these prayers, begging and pleading with You Father to give us pure hearts, and to make us more like You.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”. Psalm 139:23-24

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities”. Psalm 51:7, 9

One of the most important verse for me in all these?

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it”. Proverbs 4:23

Thank You Father that You hear me even when my wickedness leaves me speechless. Forever grateful! Forever Yours!