Thursday, March 6, 2025
New Testament Reading Plan: 2 Peter 2
“Check your heart” is a phrase that I have heard many times from my Jesus-following friends. Admittedly, I used to take this personally before brushing it off, but lately I have learned the importance of taking this advice seriously.
When our heart is in the wrong place, it can wreak havoc on every area in our lives. Our heart posture shows up very clearly in the words that we use and how we use them.
We can easily forget to consistently check our hearts. It can be a painful and often very convicting process. The more I grow in my walk with Christ, the more I check where my intentions and heart are in every situation, especially in my relationships with others. I have to ask myself throughout the day if I am doing things for the glory of God, or if I am doing them for selfish reasons. This provides me with a very telling reality check.
In the book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul encourages us to regularly check in with ourselves. By remaining humble and merciful with those around us, we can align our hearts with the heart of Christ.
Ephesians 4:2-3
2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
Checking your heart is supposed to challenge you—it helps you to prune the negative and selfish intentions and instead grow in your love for God and others.
Unfortunately, as humans, we tend to become prideful, thinking we don’t need to check our hearts. We trust our own judgement and intentions. We all want to be seen as good Christ followers, so it isn’t easy to show each other our sins and struggles.
However, practicing humility helps us to take down our walls and have honest conversations with those around us. These vulnerable moments allow us to perform heart checks, making sure that our intentions are aligned with God’s glory and his will.
It may be challenging, but checking our hearts and remaining humble helps us avoid and disarm difficult situations and, ultimately, leads to stronger relationships. When we are united in the Spirit, we are better able to connect with the people around us, and we glorify God in all our interactions.
Questions:
When was the last time you performed a heart check?
Why is it sometimes difficult to check our hearts?
Next Steps:
Join a Group to connect with a community of Christ followers who will hold you accountable and encourage you each week.
Begin journaling to perform regular heart checks, aligning your intentions and will with God’s.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for holding us accountable for our words and our actions. Help me to align my will with yours and make my intentions pure. Remind me to check my heart every day and show others the same grace and patience that you have shown me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Ephesians 4:29
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
This post was written by Isabelle Billnitzer, a Perrysburg attendee, and regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.