Along with the concept of love comes the topics of forgiveness, and repentance, these are all matters of the heart. When we are able to understand these real connections we can be more deliberate in living our best life. These matters of the heart are able to forcefully separate, or galvanize, depending on how they align, like the force between powerful magnets.

The Heart and the Subconscious Mind

The heart I speak of is not the blood pump, rather the seat of our emotions. The control center that guides our actions and behaviors. What we think and believe comes forward through our actions. Those thoughts and beliefs are stored in the heart. Our subconscious minds reside in our hearts.

The subconscious mind absorbs all that we believe. Our individual heart-felt truths are stored in the heart in the subconscious. When we laugh, when we cry, what we fear, what brings us joy is stored there in the heart. So then, our actions to draw close to someone, push away from something, or even the actions that we take to put our life on the line are all connected to what is stored in our heart. These then are matters of the heart.

Whatever is in your heart comes out in your behavior. Love is an outward expression of what resides in the heart. The fruit of the spirit resides within the heart because of the influence of God. When our subconscious is yielded to Him our actions reflect His love. When we act in accordance with that influence it is because the subconscious mind has internalized His truth, His way of doing and being right. We are to seek His way. His way is the way of truth.

Our thoughts lead to feelings, which lead to emotions that create actions that become behaviors over time resulting in our habits. Our Creator made those connections. He has given us the tools we need to open our hearts to those thoughts which promote well-being, and the best life. The converse then is also true. When we follow the thoughts and feelings that are not of God the result is less than God’s best for us.

David’s Heart

David was said to be a man after God’s own heart. Being of flesh and blood as we are King David was susceptible to the temptations of the flesh. David, the giant slayer, was also the man that, when captivated by the beauty of Bathsheba, a married woman, sent for her and had an illicit relationship with her. She became pregnant. He then orchestrated a situation where her husband was sent to the front lines in battle and killed.

He was by no means perfect, yet in Acts 13:22 he is called “a man after God’s own heart”. If David was able to be recognized as one who sinned and one after God’s own heart, what is it that we can do to be counted as one who is willing and able to do the same? Pastor Ron Edmondson gives 10 reasons.

One of the reasons David was recognized as a man after God’s own heart is because he was repentant. In the book of Psalms chapter 51 David reflects in a prayer on his relationship with Bathsheba and his condition of missing the mark. He repents there too. He asks God to create in Him a clean heart.

Repentance, sin and forgiveness are all matters of the heart. David committed sin, repented and was forgiven because of his heart condition. He humbled himself before God and asked God to help him to clean his heart.

David knew he had missed the mark and sinned. Read chapter 51 in the book of Psalms. What was the posture of this mighty King? How did he seek God’s cleansing of his heart? What was the process that David when through to repent?

According to the word we are directed in the following way regarding repentance: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” (Acts 3:20, KJV)

“Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” (Acts 8:22, KJV)

Forgiveness

We receive forgiveness from God. We forgive ourselves. The act of repentance is connected with prayer, thought and the heart. Repentance, forgiveness and wickedness are matters of the heart. Matters of the heart include forgiveness of others.

I urge you to receive the gift of forgiveness for yourself and give the gift of forgiveness to others who have missed the mark with you. Be after God’s own heart. Review the prayer of David referenced in chapter 51. Know that he was forgiven. Know that you can be too.

Study the words of Jesus in the book of Luke chapter 17 verses two and three. Pray and ask God to show you how to cleanse your heart. He is faithful, He is loving and He is merciful. When we request His help He will come through. It may not be in the way we expect. It may not be in the timing we want, but we are told in the word He will not forsake us.

What is stored in your subconscious? Do repentance, forgiveness and love reside in your heart? Your actions reveal what is hidden in your heart.

Take Inventory and Take Action on these matters of the heart.

Love,

Deborah

“Lighting the path to loving your neighbor as yourself.”