A Perfect Heart

2Ch 25:2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.

Studying King Amaziah in II Chronicles 25 got me to thinking about what it takes to first of all have a perfect heart and then to keep a perfect heart.  In God’s eyes, what is this perfect heart? I see imperfection every day beginning with me. We all want to excel wouldn’t you agree? Why don’t we?

I’ve had some of the best teachers work for me but the ones with a perfect heart make the most difference especially in the lives of their students.  The love for children is evident in their manner of teaching, in their walk, in their countenance, in their responses to parents and again I say, in their manner of teaching.  They have a passion for teaching and it is exhibited in a multitude of ways. It’s like a supernatural flowing of power through their veins. God will give whatever that teacher needs to get the material across to the students if a teacher has His passion.

My husband and I recently attended a Chamber of Commerce breakfast with one gentleman speaking in support of the Step-Up for Students Scholarship Program.  After the gentleman spoke my husband said, “He has such passion for what he believes. I may not agree with everything he said, but I get it why he is sold out to it.”

Amaziah lacked passion for God. He was sold out to his own desires. He walked like he believed in God. He held to the Laws of God and even followed the law as it was written but his heart was not “full of God” but full of “self.” His ideas were the only way. He didn’t step into the supernatural realm of a supernatural God. It was too safe right in his own world, therefore, Amaziah missed it! He had it all, and yet he had nothing. The end result of nothing is nothing!

I don’t want to die having nothing to leave behind to those who know me. Do you? Why would we want anything less than God? He is everything and He is perfect. Therefore, without Him, we cannot have a perfect heart. I don’t want to do a number on these two words and for sure do not want to mislead anyone into thinking wrongly on what it means to have a “perfect heart” when we are an imperfect people, but there are a few scriptures (our measuring stick) to read and study about the perfect heart.

If you are in ministry then you are judged, daily sometimes. If you have been in ministry for many years, you can become tired, weary, worn out from doing all that is “required” of you. The rules can become laborious and you may find yourself even wanting to move to another ministry or change churches, or just not show up for your responsible area. I see it constantly when people lose heart. Maybe, it is time to do a check-up and get back in the saddle!

*Check your heart. Is there an irritation that has not been dealt with or one that is not going away, therefore, your heart needs to make an adjustment? Where have you put your faith? Do you love what you do? If not, why? Spend time with yourself alone with God and get it settled. Don’t be stubborn and lose years of blessings.  Amaziah lost out and all the while, he looked good in the eyes of many people. And so did Asa because their faith was misplaced. You may want to study Asa in 2 Chronicles.

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.   Don’t be guilty of causing war. People die in wars!

*Check your motivation. Why do you do what you do? Are you able to see God working through you? Can you see people affected in a good way for Christ? Are you able to give the gospel freely and are you seeing them receive it as from God? Ask yourself, “Am I doing this because of recognition from people or am I doing this for Christ, alone?”

1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

*Check the Scriptures. Go back to your calling, or did you just decide it looked good to do what you do? Oh me….haven’t we all done certain ministries because of this very reason. I’m sure God gets his mileage from us, but when the heart is not right we spin our wheels and travel nowhere!

2 Kings 20:3 I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

*Check the enemy.  Is he around? Did you let him in through the back door and no one saw? Your house is not clean anymore, but it looks spotless to the world and maybe looks spotless to your church…….. but the maids came and did it for you.  Get the broom and start beating the devil out of your house…..do your job!

1 Kings 11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

“Lord, I want to know YOU. Search my heart and help me to have a perfect heart in thine eyes.”

Until next time, Lord willing!

Sharon