POSITIVE HEART TRAITS (1)

“Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the WHOLE HEART” – Psalm 119:2

Scriptures elaborate on POSITIVE HEART TRAITS for Believers to cultivate: “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the WHOLE HEART” (Psa.119:2). Not only does the heart matter before God and with men, the Type or TRAIT of HEART matters. The books of Psalms and Proverbs provide many verses that explain why the kind of heart we have matters. Our meditative verse underlines the need to seek God with our WHOLE HEART (v.2). The Psalmist also said: “With my WHOLE HEART I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my HEART, that I might not sin against You” (vv.10-11). Cultivating positive heart traits keeps us from wandering from God’s Word and from sinning against Him.

In particular, the book of Proverbs speaks much about the heart, contrasting different kinds. Today, we’ll meditate of Three Positive Heart Traits, tomorrow, another three, and then, the negative traits. The positive types of heart we’re considering are: the trusting heart, the understanding or discerning heart, and the merry or cheerful heart. All of these are products of the regenerated heart.

TRUSTING HEART: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your won understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Pro.3:5-6). Trusting in the Lord is so important, but sometimes very difficult, especially when we are passing through trying times. Yet, the Grace of God is available to the Believer in Christ, to demonstrate total trust in God. We must learn to give it all to God, laying all our fears, doubts, and worries at His feet, and not pick them back up. We do this as we go to God in prayer and truly empty ourselves of all the pain, pressures, and anxieties we’re going through. They’ll be taken care of: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord” (Jer.17:7). Trust in God never puts to shame (Rom.12:11).

DISCERNING or UNDERSTANDING HEART: “The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness” (Pro.15:14). This was the kind of heart Solomon requested from the Lord when he was given the opportunity to ask for anything he desired: “Therefore give to your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1Kgs.3:9). His story explains the great value God places on an understanding heart. So pleased was He with Solomon’s request that He granted him riches and honour in addition. We also can ask and receive: “Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart” (Psa.119:34).

CHEERFUL or MERRY HEART: “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken…All the days of the afflicted are evil, but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast” (Pro.15:13,15); “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones” (Pro.17:22). These scriptures speak of the healing power of a merry heart. People with merry hearts are grateful for all the good things God gives them in life. They can see well when everyone else is thinking the worst. They treasure God’s many gifts daily – life, health, friendships, afith, and more. Cheerful hearts hold on to God’s promises in faith. People with merry hearts have an inner ability to be grateful for all kinds of things that many other people overlook.

Beloved, to what extent can your heart be described as trusting, discerning, understanding, cheerful or merry? Pray over your response!