Who is the person you listen to more than anyone else? Bob Kesling (UT Radio Voice)? Brad Nessler (ESPN)? Shepard Smith (FoxNews)? Your children? Your wife? Your boss? Your co-workers? Men, the voice you listen to more than anyone else is . . . your own; your own heart. Throughout a day, no matter what anyone says to you, you always respond to it from your heart. See, right now, you are already responding to what I have written! This begs us as men to consider two truths.
You must not listen to your heart.
Jeremiah 17:9 says, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Just taking this passage at face value, what does it say about your heart? Do you want to listen to that which is deceitful, full of lies, and desperately wicked? Do you want to listen to a heart that you cannot fathom, understand, or explain? Then, why do you listen to yourself? I listen to myself because I like myself. I am selfish. I think I have it all figured out. See there, I am deceived. So that leads me to the next principle that is so needed.
You must speak the truth to your heart.
Proverbs 23:7 says, For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Instead of listening to myself, I must speak the truth to myself. There are so many wonderful, life-changing, “keeping me on the right track,” truths from God’s Word that need to be uppermost in my mind and heart. Here a few right out of Ephesians 1 and based upon my position in Christ:
- Since Christ is the eternal expression of God’s greatest blessing, I am blessed forever in Christ with all spiritual blessings (3).
- Since Christ is the Father’s eternally Chosen One, I am chosen in Christ; His forever (4).
- Since Christ is the accepted and beloved Son of God, I am accepted in the beloved (6).
- Since Christ is the full payment for my sin, I am redeemed through His blood (7).
- Since Christ is the access into God’s grace, I am graced forever (7).
- Since Christ took the wrath of God for my sin, I am reconciled to God (10).
Men, to overcome the deceitfulness of our hearts, we must constantly speak the truth to our hearts. Stop listening to yourself and start preaching the Truth to yourself today—that’s what we need to hear!
From A Pastor's Heart 