Do you know the heart

In Your presence Lord, there is joy and peace that never ends.  Father, I love You and honour You in Jesus name.  Amen!

We hear so often of bullies at school and how our own children are being targeted and hurt emotionally and physically by other children.  As a mother, this has happened to my son many times especially in primary school.  Now in high school at the age of seventeen, he has been targeted by others who swear at him and who says hurtful things about his image, simply just to break him down.  I think I’m not the only one who build up emotions of anger and feel to just go and face these bullies to sort them out.  But then, praying about it allows me to feel God’s heart in all of this and it is then when I wonder about what is really going on in the hearts of those bullies.

I remember when my son was in Grade 4, he was attacked at school and 3 boys literally tried to kill him.  One was choking him with his jacket, the other closed his nose with his hands and the other pushed toilet paper into his mouth.  My goodness, can you imagine what went through my son’s mind.  A friend was close by and assisted him to get free from that evil grip and after that he had to receive counseling for some time.  When we reported this incidence to the school management, it was found that the main culprit had many issues at home.  I realised there and then that as we are living happily in our safe environments we have no idea how many other people are unhappy and experience physical and verbal abuse, with no presence of Christ in their lives.  Needless to say, as a teacher approached this boy, he crumbled, cried and called out for help.  He apologised to my son and started with counseling at school.

So, do we know what is going on in the hearts of other people?  I am of the opinion that whenever there is any abnormal behavior, there is something out of place in a person’s heart.  Now what is regarded as abnormal behavior?  Well, I am not a doctor and not a psychologist, but I base my opinion on my relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  Hence, I believe any foul language, aggression, hatred, physical and verbal abuse etc are abnormal.  The challenge we have is that so many have accepted the wrong as normal and therefore might not agree with me on my opinion.  I say that what comes out of the mouth and in people’s actions, is from the heart and if it is not pure, it is abnormal.  God is very clear that what comes from the heart must speak life as it says in Proverbs 4:23: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”  Other scriptures of the heart says:

• Mathew 15:18-19 “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.”

• Luke 6:45 “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”

I want to take it a step further.  I used the example of bullies at school, but what about adults?  How many parents, co-workers and even those close to us, say hurtful things?  They were yesterday’s children but today’s adults and if their hearts never healed, they carry on breaking and contaminating hearts as they go along.  Dear Lord please help us to help these people.  They are so blinded by the world and satan’s lies and hurt that they don’t see what they are doing.  Amen!  I always say, when such people are in a crowd, they get ugly and say hurtful things, but put them alone in a room or any situation with a spirit filled child of God, they get so uncomfortable.  Sometimes they start swearing at you, which is simply satan reacting, so don’t allow yourself to be distracted by it.  However, look into their eyes and talk calmly, give love and see what happens.  They will eventually turn soft.  You see dear reader, we are all created in God’s image and that means we are born to love.  When love in the heart is stimulated, it will return in full force, even if it takes time.  Remember, it is love that concurred death on the cross.  It is because of love that Jesus died for you and me.

One more thing that I want to touch on is that you might have Christ in your heart and not be doing any of the things I have said above.  However, mom and dad, do you know as in really know what is in your children’s hearts?  Husbands and wives, do you really know what is in your spouse’s heart?  Do you take the time to sit down and listen, to observe and to hear with your own heart on what is in the hearts of your loved ones or do we just think everyone is alright?  Don’t be fooled.  Satan attacks everyone, especially those who he knows is standing for Christ.  Stay alert, be focused and stay informed on what is happening under your nose.  It only takes a bit of effort and some time to say: “Hey, are you ok?  What is going on inside of your heart that you would like to share?”  Yes, some people don’t share easily but that is also because their hearts somewhere down the line were broken.  Put in some effort, it will be worth it.  Sometimes it is saying nothing but simply being there for that person or just holding them.

Dear reader, our hearts is the target of satan’s attacks.  Guard your heart, like the Lord says, it is the wellspring of life.  Never think that someone is a lost case.  Even the cruelest people have a heart and that heart when love is released upon, will crumble, for we have been created to love.

I ask you again, do you know the hearts of the people around you?  If not, start today!

Lots of love

Princess K

PS:  Dear reader, please remember that the scripture used are from the New International Version.  If the scripture is read in another language and translation it might differ slightly.  A verse in the NIV might be a different one in your Bible, i.e. Ps 37:3 in the NIV might be Ps 37:4 in your bible.  This does not always occur, but happens in some instances.