Self development is great. Develop yourself to speak well, dress well, have a good education, a honourable social circle, a fit body and please if you can be rich, by all means BE RICH! Develop your IQ and EQ...Attain to the highest you can! ........ We live in a physical world and relate with it by information from our eyes, ears, nose, mouth and skin. People naturally tend to focus on information gathered by these senses. In fact the whole world structure and system works to appeal to our physical senses and take advantage of our physical and mental attributes in commerce, relationships, careers, politics, education etc. Yet we are primarily not bodies, we are Spirit. The most important part of us- our heart, the inner man, soul/spirit - is so often neglected or placed last. But God is Spirit. God relates with man on a spiritual level. He is mostly interested in who we are on the inside than who we are on the outside. What you look, smell, and feel like is not as important to him as what you desire, why you desire it and what you are anchored on - inside. John 4:24, 23 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”1 Samuel 16:7 NIV What moves God is the state of a man's heart. What impresses him is a perfect heart; because it is a heart that is centered on him - not his power, not what he can do- but HIM. It is a heart devoted to the Lord and Truth. 2 Chronicles 16:9 Matthew 5:48 Though it might not necessarily be perfect in all its actions, it is consistently honest and truthful. It is a heart whose only motive is the Lord and what He represents- no hypocrisy, lies or pretense: it is an undivided heart. 1 Kings 3:6. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. Ezekiel 11:19-20 NIV Developing and Maintaining a perfect heart: The heart of man is basically wicked. As a result of the original sin of Adam, it is naturally rebellious to God, Truth and right. But in Christ Jesus, we have been given a new heart and a new Spirit. However like all we received in Christ, it came in seed form (infant state) and we must develop it by changing how we think. Ephesians 4:23 How? 1. By making God's word a priority in our lives. When I say this it means not only reading the bible, but purposefully surrounding yourself with music, entertainment and places that promote a Jesus centered heart. At night my soul longs to be with you, and the spirit in me wants to be with you at the dawn of every new day. When your way of justice comes to the world, people will learn the right way of living.Isaiah 26:9 ERV This has to be deliberate because the world is structured to do just the opposite - it is designed to alienate God and Jesus from man's heart. 2. By obedience to the truth of God's word. In 1Kings 11:4,6, 10- Solomon had his heart turned away from the Lord because he ignored the Lord's command not to marry foreign women. His pure heart got corrupted. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.1 Peter 1:22 NIV
The word of God in the bible, purifies and perfects our thinking. It is alive and sharp to reveal any imperfections. Hebrews 4:12 The best thing is to quickly align your thinking to God's truth as he shows it to you. Rebellion starts in the heart. But when you think right, your heart will be right and your life will follow in time. The perfection starts first in the thinking not the external issues. Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life.Proverbs 4:23ERV 3. By humility The problem with pride is that it cannot see it's wrong and therefore cannot be helped or perfected. Pride is a CHOICE to believe a lie, and humility is a CHOICE to submit to Truth. Truth is sometimes painful, but to develop a heart God appreciates you need make the CHOICE to be open to Truth no matter how painful. The word of God is Truth. Though the Lord is exalted, He regards the lowly [and invites them into His fellowship]; But the proud and haughty He knows from a distance. Psalms 138:6 AMP 4. By allowing the Holy Spirit do his work in us. Do not resist his inner cautions, corrections and directions. He is the Spirit of Truth who leads us into all truth. John 15:26 , John 16:13 Psalm 25:5,
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Like David (A man after God's heart), a perfect heart can be known because God's presence remains with him. God seeks, prefers and will always fight to protect him. 1 Samuel 16:18,12 ; 2 Chronicles 16:9, John 4 :23 In conclusion dear Jesus followers, ..stay away from everything that is evil. We pray that God himself, the God of peace, will make you pure—belonging only to him. We pray that your whole self—spirit, soul, and body—will be kept safe and be blameless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. The one who chose you will do that for you. You can trust him.1 Thessalonians 5:22-24 ERV