At Heart

“Only you know what is in every human heart.” 1 Kings 8:39b

Today’s OT verse from the Daily Texts, words spoken by King Solomon at the dedication of the Temple, got me thinking. What is in my heart? Well, let’s take a look:

• Love for my family
• Regret for things left undone
• Gratitude for health and wellness
• Worry about how this pandemic is affecting my children
• Thanksgiving for Grace and for grace
• Anxiety about when the virus will hit closer to home
• Joy at the gift of time with those I love
• Yearning for time with those I love but don’t live with
• Peace that it’s not up to me to solve everything
• A sinking feeling that I’m not doing enough
• Faith that God remains in control
• Fear that humanity will screw this up anyway
• Hope for the future
• Sorrow for those who hurt today
• Love from my family

The human heart, it seems, is a mixed bag – and this is just what I’m aware of off the top of my head.

Today, I give thanks that there is One who knows my heart better than I do. One who creates a clean heart within me. One who writes the very law of God upon my heart. One who sees the mess within me and loves me anyway. One who loves me so much that he gave his heart, his whole life, to draw me back to God.

Whatever else is in there, my heart is filled with God, for God has chosen to dwell there. In me. And in you. Today, that’s enough.

Be well, friends. You are loved.

God of love, you see me clearly. You know me better than I know myself. Thank you for loving me, for giving Jesus to die for to that my sinful heart would be cleansed and restored. Turn my heart outward today, that I may live to share your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Image: Thing from our living room. I don’t know where it came from, but the advice is pretty good.