FAITH CAPSULE: God sees deep in the heart of man.
Proverbs 4
Whatever flows from the heart of man will mark man with identity. Ecclesiastes 9:3 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9 stated about heart, “This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after they go to dead.” As a believer, what flows from the depth of your heart? From the heart, man can relate with deception and manipulation, but God sees deep in the heart of man.
The heart of man is the most important target for the devil to launch its attack. Judas spent time with Jesus and went to places with Him. Despite Judas’ entire experience with Christ his heart volunteered for the devil to manifest. Luke 22:3-4 stated, “Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.” Satan went after the vulnerable heart of Judas and he was able to establish his plan of betraying Jesus. When the heart of man is opened to receive the author of evil, faith will fail to uphold the heart of man.
Peter was close to Jesus and could also have been a victim of the devil. Once Jesus said to him, “…Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22:31-32) The only proven target for the enemy to strike is the heart. Ananias and Sapphira, were not forced but voluntarily sell their possession to buttress the fellowship. Unfortunately, the heart of Ananias and Sapphira came up lying about their proceedings when Peter responded, “…Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep part of the price of the land for yourself? (Acts 5:3) Hearts need to be constantly engaged through meditation day and night. A heart that is engaged by meditating the word of God takes the position of non-negotiable with the devil.
Prayer of Jesus delivered Peter’s heart not to fail when his determination failed to deny devil from his heart by denying Christ three times. With meditation on the word of God and constant prayer to keep the heart, man is set not to become a victim of heart’s as vulnerability for the devil. Thank God that Jesus had already prayed for Peter’s faith not to fail. Proverbs 4:23 warned man, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Keep your heart diligently to keep self from the agenda of Satan.
Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to be constantly kept from enemy’s agenda.