The Tester of Hearts

Currently, I keep a regular planner just for jotting Scriptures down the day I read them; and if I hear anything in my spirit, that gets written down too. Skimming through my journal, I noticed a common thread.

The topic of hearts filled the page for that week.

I sense YHWH is wanting us to know how important the state of our hearts are. This also includes our thought life.

Though they need consistently checked, I want to be found pleasing in His sight, especially when He decides to test my heart.

This Week’s Scripture

⁷ “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful. -John 14:1, 27

²⁰ But, Lord of Hosts, who judges righteously,
who tests heart^[h] and mind,
let me see Your vengeance on them,
for I have presented my case to You. -Jeremiah 11:20

 You planted them, and they have taken root.
They have grown and produced fruit.
You are ever on their lips,^[i]
but far from their conscience.^[j]
3 As for You, Lord, You know me; You see me.
You test whether my heart is with You. Jeremiah 12:2-3a

¹⁰ These evil people, who refuse to listen to Me, who follow the stubbornness of their own hearts, and who have followed other gods to serve and worship—they will be like this underwear, of no use at all. ¹¹ Just as underwear clings to one’s waist, so I fastened the whole house of Israel and of Judah to Me”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“so that they might be My people for My fame, praise, and glory, but they would not obey. -Jeremiah 13:10-11

into a desolate wasteland.
¹¹ They have made it a desolation.
It mourns, desolate, before Me.
All the land is desolate,
but no one takes it to heart. -Jeremiah 12:11

The man who trusts in mankind,
who makes human flesh his strength
and turns his heart from the Lord is cursed.

The man who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence indeed is the Lord, is blessed. He will be like a tree planted by water:
it sends its roots out toward a stream,
it doesn’t fear when heat comes,
and its foliage remains green.
It will not worry in a year of drought
or cease producing fruit.

-Jeremiah 17:5, 7-8

The Deceitful Heart

⁹ The heart is more deceitful than anything else,
and incurable—who can understand it?
¹⁰ I, Yahweh, examine the mind,
I test the heart^[c]
to give to each according to his way,
according to what his actions deserve. -Jeremiah 17:9-10

²² You must not carry a load out of your houses on the Sabbath day or do any work, but you must consecrate the Sabbath day, just as I commanded your ancestors. ²³ They wouldn’t listen or pay attention but became obstinate, not listening or accepting discipline.

Jeremiah 17:22

Lord, the hope of Israel,
all who abandon You
will be put to shame.
All who turn away from Me
will be written in the dirt,
for they have abandoned
the Lord, the fountain of living water.

Jeremiah 17:13

Testing our Hearts

What kind of Elohim (God) would He be if He wasn’t concerned about our hearts?

Everything He does and desires us to do, is for our own good, always.

In my notebook, I have random reminders written down that I feel can relate to the subject of my heart being tested this week. Here are a few below, that may help someone to grasp what this may mean in practical life:

1. Remember to not grumble today! It’s a day filled with things you’d rather not be a part of, but there’s a bigger reason for you to have controlled behavior. You’re loving people, which hopefully turns them to YHWH and not away.
   • “Father YHWH, help me to not prolong Your plans for individuals around me due to my lack of good behavior or having an uncontrolled tongue.” (Though I don’t doubt His will, will be done regardless of our actions. I just feel we could make situations harder for others to see Him working.)
2. Yah, Your commands reveal the idols in our lives.
   • When we try to live by them, we see where we are tempted not to follow. For example, failing to not buy/sell on the Sabbath may indicate there is a spending issue or a material-based (false) happiness we are chasing.
3. He tests my heart if it’s for Him when I’m put into situations all the sudden. Situations of needing to serve others when I, in reality, do not feel like it (one bit).

³ As for You, YHWH, You know me; You see me.
You test whether my heart is with You.

4. His Spirit gives reminders on how I should act before a frustrating event occurs (like right before), though my flesh will want to do the total opposite.

How awesome is He, saving me from a result I seriously do not want!

5. He comes through when I ask Him to wake me up for certain things. Though I may not want to get up, I feel He tests whether I will or not, especially if it is for a date with Him in the early morning. He knows that this time helps me first off, and that I can give Him undivided praise that is due Him.

Revelations

A heart that fully trusts, is a heart I want to have, especially when He returns.

1 Corinthians 4 mentions the intentions of hearts will be revealed.

When I think about this, it brings joy to know that those who are faking to be for Him, will be brought to the light. On the other hand, it causes me to wonder how genuine I am in my walk of faith.

Am I walking in trust, resulting in peace in my every day-to-day life? (Not really! I consistently have to repent from living so anxiously, especially over the smallest things.)

I feel far from that, though I’m going to hope for His gentle leading and faithfulness towards me as His daughter. I will seek His strength and deliverance. I will believe when I am weak, He is strong because His power is made perfect in my weakness! {2 Corinth. 12:9}

Notes

Hearts are bad, but can be used for good.

“Hearts” in the Word:

Also known as the “reins” or “kidneys”, which metaphorically refers to one’s deepest self or innermost being, where true intentions reside. This is how much Yah wants of you- your whole being, even the darkest parts.

• the center of man’s thoughts
• one’s emotions (Greek & English meanings)
• a person’s will (rarely matches YHWH’s will)
• term for the totality of man’s inner nature
• can be used figuratively in most instances

YHWH has shown me that my state of heart is not good!

I’ve let myself get angry, overworked, easily provoked, and very uneasy. I’ve not been getting enough sleep (not by choice), and that’s when it’s especially hard.. Hard to hold integrity, be a good example, maintain healthy thoughts, and to love others.

I was letting go of the good fight, rather than letting go of my fears to the Most High.

Some fears for example: not getting enough sleep, then not being able to do the bare minimum during the day, then not being able to have faith or good thoughts and letting the day blow me over with whatever it comes with. Some others include: fear of not having order and then being stressed out, so I’m rushing around to finish tidying-type tasks and mind/time-taking obligations I unknowingly put on myself that day, then find myself in pain and exhausted, and too drained to even be a light to my household. Also, I fear not getting breaks. I’m afraid that if I don’t get some time alone, that it will be absolutely impossible to have the right heart and mind all day.

This is a terrible rut to be in, and I consistently find myself in it. This isn’t healthy, for one. This is also concerning to the Most High and knows there is a much better way to live and operate.

That is, TO TRUST.

The man who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence indeed is the Lord, is blessed.
⁸ He will be like a tree planted by water:
it sends its roots out toward a stream,
it doesn’t fear when heat comes,
and its foliage remains green.
It will not worry in a year of drought
or cease producing fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

• Believe Yah, your provider, will provide you with opportunities to sleep, for instance, because it is a need. (Though I don’t want to need sleep LOL!)

• Believe He is with you and cares about your struggles, though you feel you can’t spend time with Him (or wrestle to desire to at times).

• Trust that His Spirit will cut through the fleshly ways of thinking in order to be the light you fear you can’t be, due to physical circumstances.

I’ve found that WORSHIP IS THE ESCAPE. Ask for the opportunity and I’m certain He will prove faithful.

• When the time to worship comes, it’s so nice to sit there and think at least one good thought over and over (example: “YHWH is so gracious that He made me a part of His family” or thinking positive towards a personal struggle- “Anger is a reminder to surrender”.) This is also a good time to recognize all the “other” thoughts trying to impede the one good thought.

• Know His strength and faithfulness are real. They are there to operate from, rather than operating from fear-based/rushing around/chaotic/disorderly living. He doesn’t want us to be stuck. YHWH teaches us and guides us through it all.

Do you notice any needed heart-changes too?

¹² Who perceives his unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
¹³ Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins;
do not let them rule over me.
Then I will be innocent
and cleansed from blatant rebellion.
¹⁴ May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to You,
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. -Psalm 19