The Deep Waters of Our Heart

Proverbs 20:5 "The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out."

Reading books on biblical counseling has had a profound impact on my life (not to mention my ministry). One of the greatest truths that people like Tripp and Powlison have caused me to understand is that all of my behavioral sin flows out of a rebellious heart.

Sin in my life doesn't just come out of nowhere. When I do sin (which I do quite often), it's because I am a sinner. Sinful behavior comes from a sinful heart. I can use the sins I commit as a window into my rebellious heart.

So, I'm trying to be more introspective. I'm trying to stop and think, "Okay Ryan, why did messing up a piece of pizza that you just cooked make you so mad? What does that behavior say about what's going on in your heart."

That's all fine and dandy. Here's the problem: I've figured out, my heart is like a complex tapestry of motivations, intentions, hopes, hates, loves, etc. Wow! It's really hard to say, "This motivation in my heart drove me to commit this sinful deed."

Just recently as I was trying to make a decision, I sat down and tried to examine my heart to make sure that my decision was being driven by Christ-like desires and not fleshly ones. But as it turns out, each time I listed a desire of my heart, I could then break that desire down and list motives and desires that were driving that original desire (which was driving my decision). And each one of those needed to be weighed and considered biblically.

I say again, "Wow!" Our hearts are really complex. And unfortunately, the sin in our hearts has penetrated deep. I mean, really deep. That's what Reformed Christians mean by saying we are "totally depraved". It doesn't mean we are as bad as we possibly could be. It just means that sin has corrupted every single thing about us. There isn't a piece of our hearts that wasn't affected by our sin. Praise God, when he saves us by his grace, he gives us the power (through the Holy Spirit living within) to put that sin and rebellion to death. But, that sin is still there. That sin still permeates and penetrates the deepest recesses of our hearts.   O how we need the sin-defeating sin-conquering Gospel every second of every day!

"The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out." (Prov. 20:5) Deep water in deed.

PRAYER:
"Lord, grant us understanding to see our hearts, to understand our hearts, to draw out the sinful desires, affections, and motives in our hearts, and to put those to death by your Holy Spirit. Amen."