Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. Proverbs 4:23 CSB

What is my heart?

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: a blood-pumping organ in the chest.

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: the seat of human emotions.

Yes, brother, may I benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Philemon 1:20 CSB

Why is my heart so tangled up?

The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9 CSB

• My

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“For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander. These are the things that defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a person.” Matthew 15:19–20 CSB

For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate… . For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it… . For in my inner self I delight in God’s law, but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. Romans 7:15, 18, 22–23 CSB

• My

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But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11 CSB

But Moses replied to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent—either in the past or recently or since you have been speaking to your servant—because my mouth and my tongue are sluggish.” … Moses said, “Please, Lord, send someone else.” Exodus 4:10, 13 CSB

A man named Simon had previously practiced sorcery in that city and amazed the Samaritan people, while claiming to be somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least of them to the greatest, and they said, “This man is called the Great Power of God.” … When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money … But Peter told him, “May your silver be destroyed with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God.” Acts 8:9–10, 18, 20–21 CSB

• My

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How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long will I store up anxious concerns within me, agony in my mind every day? How long will my enemy dominate me? Psalm 13:1–2 CSB

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. Ephesians 6:12 CSB

Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 1 Peter 5:8 CSB

How do I begin to untangle the knots in my heart?

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 CSB

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the salvation freely offered in Jesus!

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:24–25a CSB

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1–2 CSB

• Turn my eyes and my heart away from

and toward

Reveal Answer

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Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your heart’s intent may be forgiven. Acts 8:22 CSB

… keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 CSB

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength. Ephesians 1:17–19 CSB

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God with my whole heart.

But I have trusted in your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in your deliverance. I will sing to the Lord because he has treated me generously. Psalm 13:5–6 CSB

Memory Verse

Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. Proverbs 4:23 CSB

Next Steps

• I will begin to untangle my heart by accepting the free offer of salvation.

• I will continue untangling my heart by keeping my eyes on Jesus.

• I will come back next week with a heart prepared for true worship.

My Notes