Two Hearts:

The Carnal Heart

This is the heart we are born with. It is naturally selfish and wants to do things that are not what God desires for us, where rebellion against God will come natural to us.

In this heart, we are still dead (to God), and cannot understand Him, let alone love Him. The Carnal heart keeps us away from God. Although the carnal heart may carry on in religion to appear spiritual – it will always be revealed for what it is through trying circumstances. For like a pressure cooker, when the heat is on, what is on the inside, will be forced out.

“The heart is deceitful above all things,

And desperately wicked;

Who can know it?” Jer 17:9

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. Matt 15:18-19

The Heart of God

When we repent of our old heart/life, we are given an incredible gift, a heart that wants nothing more than to love and serve God! This is a gift we cannot ever create or try to do ourselves – through our carnal heart. Like we are told;

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast. Eph 2:8-9

Though it is a gift we cannot obtain ourselves, we must participate in its purpose. As we do, we can enjoy a relationship with the God of all creation!

Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God. Ex 11:19-20

The Battle of Hearts

The new heart does not qualify us for a relationship unless we practice our will to participate with God’s Spirit. We can choose one way or the other. We can abide in God’s will through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, or we can continue to live and serve our own heart and its wishes. One will grow, and the other will die. As we abide in the Lord, He fills our heart with His Spirit – much like the oil in the lamp so it can shine (His) light. It is up to us to keep our lamps full; Matt 25.  Our life while we live it, is to continue in the walk of faith – and not cease who it is, we believe; Heb 11. If/when we do, our carnal heart will quickly take over, and we are at risk of being led astray to serve it.

We must not neglect to live as one who is at war for our battle will not be over until we breathe our final breath here on earth. There is no sabbatical, and no rest – our fight is continual!

Our spiritual heart is no different than our physical heart, in that we must do our best to keep it strong, secure and healthy – every day, and guard it with utmost diligence from its carnal rival.