Heart Trouble

DCC Devotionals: Heart Trouble
By Don Vess

Scripture Focus

Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NLT)
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”

Devotional Thought

The human heart is powerful—it keeps us alive physically, but it also represents our deepest thoughts, beliefs, and desires. Just as a person can have heart disease without knowing it, we can suffer from spiritual heart disease, unaware of how sin has hardened or corrupted us.

Physically, doctors use special tests to examine the heart. Spiritually, God’s Word and the Holy Spirit reveal the true condition of our hearts. That’s why regular time in Scripture, prayer, and fellowship with other believers is essential.

When we gather for worship or partake in the Lord’s Supper, we are reminded to examine our hearts before God. The apostle Paul instructs us:

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT) – “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.”

What’s in your heart today? Are there hidden motives, lingering bitterness, or areas where God is calling you to change? The Bible warns that “whatever is in your heart determines what you say” (Matthew 12:34, NLT).

The Only Cure: A New Heart

In today’s world, we see much evil and corrupt speech. Sin has been present since the fall of humanity, and while laws may control outward behavior, only God can change a heart. What’s the answer to spiritual heart disease? A heart transplant!

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NLT)
“I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put My Spirit in you so that you will follow My decrees and be careful to obey My regulations.”

This is what happens when we are born again—God gives us a new heart, cleansed from sin and sensitive to His voice. But even after salvation, we must guard our hearts against corruption.

How to Guard Your Heart

Solomon gives us this wisdom:

Proverbs 4:23-27 (NLT)
23 “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
24 “Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.” (Sinful words damage the heart.)
25 “Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.” (Compromising situations can lead us astray.)
26 “Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.” (Don’t wander into temptation.)
27 “Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”

Jesus reinforces this truth in Matthew 15:18-19 (NLT): “The words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.”

A sick heart leads to a sick life. But God has given us everything we need to keep our hearts spiritually strong.

A Prayer for a Pure Heart

King David understood the importance of a right heart before God:

Psalm 19:12-14 (NLT)
“How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. Keep Your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Jesus also taught:

Matthew 5:8 (NLT) – “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.”

A pure heart allows us to truly see and know God. But how do we keep our hearts pure?

Psalm 119:9-11 (NLT)
“How can a young man stay pure? By obeying Your word. I have tried hard to find You—don’t let me wander from Your commands. I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

Let’s make it our daily pursuit to guard our hearts, immerse ourselves in God’s Word, and allow Him to continually renew and transform us.

Reflection & Application
1.Heart Check – What is the current condition of your spiritual heart? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas that need healing or change.
2.Guard Your Heart – Are you protecting your heart from negative influences? Consider what you consume—media, conversations, thoughts—and make adjustments if needed.
3.Hide God’s Word – Memorize and meditate on Scripture daily. God’s Word keeps our hearts strong and pure.
4.Pray for Renewal – Ask God to cleanse your heart and give you a fresh desire for His presence and righteousness.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, search my heart and reveal anything that is not pleasing to You. Cleanse me from hidden faults and renew a right spirit within me. Help me to guard my heart, speak words of life, and live in a way that honors You. May my heart be a place where Your truth dwells. In Jesus’ name, Amen.