To Guard and Guide My Heart
Gracious Lord,
Were it not for your Word, which reveals that our heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure (Jer. 17:9), I would be much more inclined to follow its lead. I am sure of this, because even though I already know this danger, I still foolishly let my heart guide me from time to time, only to learn another hard lesson about how misleading it is.
Let David’s plea in the psalm be my plea: “create in me a pure heart, O God” (Ps. 51). Let your description of David also be a description of me, that I would be “a man after [your] own heart” (Acts 13:22). A heart that has been washed and cleansed by your blood, Jesus, is one that knows to lean on you and your Word for all understanding, direction, and guidance. It is a heart that clings to your salvation above all else, and fiercely and faithfully seeks to stand guard against every outside attempt of the evil one to attack and take it over (Proverbs 4:23). By your grace, God, grant me such a heart and so keep me yours forever.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.