We like to think well of people for the most part; And sometimes we are arguing to that point. Have you ever made the statement, “Oh, well she/he has a good heart!”? Certainly, we would reason for the goodness of our own heart, having a virtue and integrity that surpasses many.

And yet, Scripture is so clear on the matter of the heart that I catch my breath whenever I hear someone’s misguided remarks.

The Prophet Jeremiah doesn’t candy-coat the condition of the heart.

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked…”

Jeremiah 17:9, NLT

That’s where you find EVERY human heart beginning with our own: The MOST deceitful of ALL things, DESPERATELY wicked!

The Apostle Mark wrote (of course guided by the Spirit of God just like Jeremiah and all the writers of Scripture):

“…out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within…”

Mark 7:21-23

After assessing the heart’s weighty malady, it would benefit a person greatly to search out and put into practice the best course of action.

A whole regiment of exercises are lined out in Proverbs 4 to help heart conditions but unless a heart has met the Primary Heart Doctor, personally, no amount of training will change the condition of that heart.

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God…”

Romans 10:9-10

Our hearts determine the course of our lives! Do you believe that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again to pay the sin debt you owed? If you answered YES! Then you are on the right course, and you have the Holy Spirit of God living inside you to help put into practice such things as:

• Guarding your heart
• Putting away devious lips
• Looking directly ahead
• Discerning the path of your feet, Proverbs 4:23-27

So, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life!” Proverbs 4:23