I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman? For what is the allotment of God from above, And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high? Is it not destruction for the wicked, And disaster for the workers of iniquity? Does He not see my ways, And count all my steps? Job 31:1-4
Really?
In chapter 31, Job lays out for God ten sins that he is not guilty of, beginning with lust. I read that and said to myself, “Really Job? You’re not guilty of lust? Every other guy I know is; how did you achieve this impressive feat?”
Is Job lying?
The short answer is no. What Job is more accurately declaring before God is that the sin of lust is no longer an issue in his heart because he has changed his mind regarding the misbehavior. Job has in reality committed himself to what the Apostle Paul would later prescribe in Colossians 3:2; he has “Set (his) mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
At this point we might be asking ourselves what does changing our minds have to do with changing our hearts? Well, the very first thing we need to understand is that we are not capable of changing our hearts.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9
In God’s opinion Job was a faithful follower and a righteous man, therefore it stands to reason that Job knew that a man’s heart is deceitfully wicked. In the same regard, Job likely knew what God knew, ‘That every intent of the thoughts of his heart (that is, a man’s heart) was only evil continually.’ (Genesis 6:5). This knowledge compelled Job to forget about changing that which he couldn’t change (his own heart) and focus on the thing he could change; his mind. Here’s why…
I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. Jeremiah 17:10
Job came to realize that only God can change a man’s heart and that He will only do so if first the person changes his mind; if he makes a conscious decision in his mind to reject the evil that percolates up from the heart and submit himself to God’s will.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
The Work is God’s
We cannot clean our own heart — it is impossible.
In Job’s case, he made a choice and God did the work. Doesn’t that make perfect sense? I don’t know about you, but that information is marvelously freeing to me — the bonds of sin are loosed when by choice we mindfully decide to not sin. Incredibly, and in God’s perfect timing, He changes our hearts and the illicit urges that once gurgled within slow and eventually will cease. I can certainly bear witness to that slowing part. Now, when I read a passage like,
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8
…I understand the implications! When I (when we) purpose in our minds to change behavior, God will honor those decisions by changing our hearts. This doesn’t mean we won’t sin (although we do possess the power of God to not sin), but rather we sin less and less as we’re mindfully submitted to His refining process. Consider how setting our minds on Heavenly things jives with this promise of God:
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Now consider the flip-side — those who would opt to not change their thinking face this reality:
God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting. Romans 1:28b
Those who have been given over to debased minds are those who are stubbornly determined to pursue the lusts of their deceitful hearts. That doesn’t sound all that appealing to me. Like most of you, I partook (in great excess) to what the world had to offer and I found it to be severely lacking of anything of substance or eternal worth. It was only when I decided to listen to wise, godly counsel that I discovered the purpose the Father had planned for my life.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5
- What do these verses say about God?
- What do they say about us?
- What kind of changes should we be considering?
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I just found this blog, and I am so glad that I did! I remember well into my relationship with God, He started doing big miraculous things in my life to get my attention. I remember then, praying, “Okay, God, make me crazy, because it can only be you, so you want to change something in me, and, well it will probably make me crazy” -Amen . (Close enough)!). It is good to read what you said about the heart, and experiences of others. It must have been my heart He was and still is working on. I did not go crazy, and I have better judgement, decision making, more and better love, not much more running from issues, standing up to my bullies, and so much more, that is a new me, because I recognize the old me, and this is new and better. My prayer now is “God make me more of the better me-Amen. Thank-you. Alice
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Thanks, Alice! I am glad you were blessed.
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thank you..im a jehovah witness and reading online info thatts religious normally be off wrong whatever. but you kept it simple and shared scriptures. you just saved a life. and possibly many others. youve also changed my thinking. haha but the credit have to go to God, thank you. ^__^
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Praise the Lord indeed!
“For the word of God is (alive), and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
You have blessed the Lord, Aj!
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Sometimes I feel powerless to change my attitude, but I think after some reflection and being brought to this devotion, I’m reminded that if I can first seek to be thankful in all circumstances, God can change my heart. I would like to be changed from the inside out, and I would like my husband to take notice of the positive changes! However, I am not sure why it feels scary to strive towards greater excellence, in the sense of meditating on true, pure, noble…things? As if I’ve become comfortable in my sin of negativity!
Thank you for your reflections!
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Thanks for stopping by Lindsay and leaving a comment. Change is most certainly a lifelong process. Keep abiding in Christ Jesus! Have a great day in the Lord.
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I asked God to keep me from sin. I kept messing up. I would be in the middle Of sin before I even realized I was sinning. I was deceived even though I thought I was doing what was right. I find it unfair.
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Leah, we all mess up. The Apostle Paul messed up, Mother Teresa messed up, Billy Graham messes up — we’re all guilty. In one sense Leah, the fact that you ‘know’ your messing up is a good thing. It would seem that you are open to receiving from the Holy Spirit — He’s convicting you to ‘make you aware,’ not to condemn you. God wants us to be ‘aware’ so He can change us! Please don’t become frustrated because it’s a slow process sometimes. Some things God changed in me quickly, and other things seem to be taking much longer. It doesn’t matter ‘as long as’ we’re ‘submitted’ to the work that God wants to do in us.
God is FAITHFUL to complete the work He has begun in you! Give God time, after all He is a Master Craftsmen and a masterpiece takes time!
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[…] Change Your Mind to Change Your Heart (compassiondave.wordpress.com) […]
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I always learn something new reading your blogs 🙂 thanks Dave!
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Blessings Tara!
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Awesome site!!! Very cool. God Bless You and your work as you serve the Lord.
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Thank you Kendall.
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Anytime!
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How does one remove love, lust and pain from ones mind and heart completely? For my mind and heart are mentally & emotionaly weak. And I feel frustrated and angry with myself that I am at a loss spiritually because of my mind and heart have fully taken over by someone I loved once. I’m no longer the spiritual person I once was and feel nothing but dead inside, most of all hurt disappointed, mentally sad emotionally weaker as a person with no self respect or self worth left within me because of the choices I made in life that I don’t regret but have left me with a broken mind and a broken heart.
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Becky, I believe we all struggle to varying degrees with those heart and mind issues, and the truth is that they never leave us completely. Those thoughts and emotions may decrease with time, but a remnant will always remain. The answer is to draw closer to Jesus and He promises to draw closer to us. Pain and sorrow might not leave us entirely, but at Christ’s side continually we discover a peace that surpasses all understanding. The biggest mistake we often make when we’re in emotional distress is to turn away from Jesus, when the reality is He is our best ally. Jesus wants only the best for and only He is capable of using what some have meant for evil and use it for good. The only stipulation is that we allow Him access to our hearts. He will not change us if we don’t allow Him to. I’m praying for you, Becky.
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