REMINDER: About The Heart

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” -Jeremiah 17:9

Yesterday, I met up with two great friends for lunch. It felt like deja vu; we had the same discussion just a few years back. I hate not having answers. I need explanations. I need to understand the whys and hows in life, the purposes and the reasons. I need to know it all. Sorry, friends, I can’t accept, “Some things we may never know!” I really hate that saying.

I could see the eyes of one of my friends across the table. As she looked at me and the other friend, we had seen a look on her face we had seen many times on our friend’s face before. It’s the look of, “Seriously? You guys still don’t understand the human heart is deceitful?” And we can always predict what she’s going to say next, “The two of you believe everything. You want to help people. You love with all of you, and you think the best of people.” I’m summing up her words. I can’t say as eloquently as she states it. I can’t describe the shocked and passionate way she looks at us with her beautiful dark eyes that get even darker as she’s talking. I looked at my other friend who was sitting next to me and said, “Go ahead. Smack me. Maybe I’ll get it this time, and then I’ll smack you into reality too."

All joking aside, I quoted the above verse. It’s a passage everyone knows well. Who doesn’t know this truth? It doesn’t matter what culture, religion, or language you speak. Everyone knows the heart of a person is deceitful. However, this is not an excuse. It’s a choice we make. What kind of heart do we want? That was my statement and my question back to them.

My Beloved friends, I will say it again. “Whatever you sow your going to reap. Hurting others never gets rewarded. Lying, conniving, and deceiving will always come back to embarrass and shame you. The person who wasn’t expecting it might be feeling foolish for believing but when the smoke clears they understand it’s not them but the evil of another person’s deceitful heart.

Our “catch up girlfriends lunch” was over, but I couldn’t shut down my mind regarding this topic and our discussion. Last night, as I went for my usual run, I continued to dwell on it. I called another friend, Linda. I I told her, “Linda, I’m sorry, but I don’t understand, why does God allow this to happen?” Before she could answer, I felt God ask me a question. “What exactly do you want to know?” I almost stopped dead on my tracks, almost tripping over my feet. I knew what God was saying to me, “You are mad, and you're mad at me. You want to know why I didn’t show you the truth. Why I allowed the deception?” Within a microsecond God revealed what I was asking. That will be addressed at another time.

Immediately, I said, “Oh my God, Linda. God is revealing some things to me." Give me a moment to tell you. In the revelation God reminded me of Elisha and Gehazi. Like I said before, it’s now two months I can’t seem to get away from this man’s life. Finally, to Judas, who betrayed Christ. Elisha didn’t know who Gehazi was until God reveled what was in his heart. The 11 disciples didn’t know who Judas was until God reveled who he was. And I could add many people examples here. Do you get my point?

No matter how discerning we are, there are times when God chooses to hide from our eyes what is in the hearts of those who are closest to us. I realized in that split second, God reveals all truth at the proper time, and all that is hidden He brings to light while all along protecting His own. Catch what the Spirit is saying to you today. He protects YOU in the deceitful actions and ways of others.

You see, there’s no evidence of Elisha and the 11 disciples going into hysteria how could they not see, hear, and know the evil in the heart of Gehazi and Judas? There’s no “Why would you do this to us, how could you, or what were you thinking?” There’s total silence from all injured parties. No, that’s not a sign of weakness. It’s the sign of the greatest of strength and character. It’s “We know your deeds, and we will let God judge between you and us.” Please, get this clearly in your spirit. Trying to discuss trying to understand it and looking for answers from a deceitful heart only brings further confusion. How can you believe the explanation of a dishonest and untruthful heart? Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. There’s no truthfulness from a lying person. A liar is a liar.

Listen please. Sly, crafty, and double-faced people are dangerous. What they do are calculated for evil and their schemes are always crooked. Last night, while running physically, I was also running away spiritually. God had to stop me dead in my track so I could understand this important truth about the human heart. You and I can’t help anyone who’s corrupted in their hearts. There’s only One Helper and One Deliverer; His name is The Lord God Almighty. We can’t help anyone that doesn’t desire it.

Please release yourself from the prison of trying to understand how you could have been fooled. Let go of feeling foolish and never regret having loved people who have lied to you. The heart was made to love. You didn’t do anything wrong by believing in the person. It’s the lying person’s choice to do what is right, kind, and loving. However, they choose the corrupted life style.

Elisha and the 11 disciples were godly people, they knew God and walked in His ways, but they were never all knowing and all understanding. They weren’t capable of seeing the heart of the persons, and neither are we. God had to show me clearly, I am not God, I can’t possibly know all that’s in the hearts of men. No matter how godly I am, or how closely I walk with Him. However, I can rest assured He protects over me and will never cause shame or humiliation to enter my court never mind my life. You can rest in this comfort, too.

Finally, you don’t find Elisha or the 11 disciples trying to maintain a friendship with these guys. What does dark have in common with light? What does holy have in common with wickedness? What does truth have in common with liars? Stay on the straight and narrow, don’t look back, keep focused on God and God alone. The heart of people are deceitful and only God knows the intention of the heart. Ask God to give you a clean heart. He does to all those who ask.

Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are the God of Truth. You are the One who exposes the heart of a person. Help me to remember in You, O God, I cannot control the actions and attitudes of those around me and that the only thing I can do is control my actions and my attitudes. Father, help me to remember doing things Your way is the best way because Your way brings about blessing. Give me wisdom, understanding, and discernment that comes from You alone. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

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