Heart Study

MEDITATION 2

AN OPEN HEART

 

What is the heart?

 

The heart is the center of our being where will, emotion, intellect, personality and spirit merge. It is the invisible place within every human being where we can withdraw to meet with God, the lover and Creator of our hearts. Our hearts can think, feel, and will. 

 “The heart is our hidden center, beyond the grasp of our reason …  The heart is the place of decision, the deepest part of us that drives us to act or not. “It is the place of truth, where we choose life or death. It is the place of encounter with the living, true God who wants to live in relationship with you in this life and in the next. (CCC  2563 paraphrased in part)

Moving forward, we will call God, Jesus, although He is three persons in 1 ( He is Father ,  Jesus , and Holy Spirit) -we will talk about that later.   Jesus came to earth in the flesh and died for us, so  being earthly creatures, we will refer to Him as God. Because He is! 

Jesus  says in sacred Scripture that we can  do many things with our hearts...examine them, humble them, and soften them. This is where  Jesus suggests to begin looking at our hearts. He tells us to guard our hearts,  and see with them by opening the eyes to our hearts. This means re looking and rethinking Him and the world with new sight. (Ephesians 1:18)

Jesus tells us that He knows our hearts and He tests our hearts. He is able to harden hearts, soften hearts, draw hearts, speak to hearts. He loves…broken hearts, contrite hearts, adoring hearts, pure hearts, meek hearts and sorry hearts. He dislikes and judges proud hearts, haughty hearts, lying hearts, slandering hearts and cold and stony hearts. You will see all of these heart descriptors in the scriptures in this study.

Why all the talk about so many types of hearts in Sacred Scripture? Because your Creator made you to live with a heart that is connected to Him. He loves you and wants to share all of life with you. A hardened, cold heart can keep you from feeling and knowing Jesus’ love for you. He desires for you to examine and open your heart and not to harden it so that he can meet with you in your heart. 

Your heart is currently giving attention to something.  Anything or anyone you give your heart to will have your time, energy and attention. With your heart, in the center of your being, you will choose God or no God, life or death, love or hate. In your heart you will decide what you treasure in this life. “Where your treasure is your heart will be also.” (Mark 6:21)

To live with Jesus and hear him you must find, choose and maintain a soft and open heart to who Jesus says He is…God in the flesh. This is where you begin to “rethink Jesus”. In order to open your heart to Jesus you need to begin with a good honest look at your heart. So begin to look and don’t be afraid, He already knows what is in your heart. 

GOD’S  HEART in WORDS

 

Psalm 77:7…In the night I meditate in my heart; I ponder and my spirit broods… 

 

 

Proverbs 4:23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life.  

 

 Jeremiah 24:7 I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD; and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole  heart. 

 

Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh…

 

Jeremiah 29:13  When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all of your heart.

 

Lamentations 2:19 …Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord

 

THINK ABOUT IT: 

 

1. What do you treasure (hold close to your heart)?

2.  What has your time, attention and energy? 

3. What does that tell you about your heart? 

4.  Why is considering your heart important? Is there anything you need to examine or open your heart to? 

…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Mark 6:21).

 

DO IT

 …”The word (truth) is very near you, it is in your heart”… Romans 10:8  

1. Look up this scripture Matthew 7:7-12. This is what Jesus says He will do if you open up your heart to Him. If you do not have a living relationship with Him, tell Jesus you are open to “rethinking” Him. Tell Him that you want to open your heart to Him speaking to you and looking into your heart. Sit still and imagine looking at him and him looking back at you.  Let your heart melt at His gaze toward you.

2.  Open your heart to the possibility that you treasure things that will pass away and are not helping you to keep a soft and open heart …let go of the tight grip on the treasures that will not last or lead you anywhere good. Example:  unforgiveness, sex outside of marriage, pride, vanity, materialism, judgment, lying…

3.  Find a chapel and or quiet place in nature and sit in silence. Find and talk to someone you know (this is not the time to judge them) that you believe loves and follows Jesus. Ask them questions.  

4. Recall what has made you the happiest in life; remember when you felt blessed and alive. Was your heart open? Could Jesus have been there? Was God speaking to your heart?