Ephesians 3:17
When the heart is mentioned in Scripture, is it referring to
the organ that pumps blood through your body? That organ is of great value and without it we have no life,
but the heart God is referring to is of greater importance. John Eldredge states in his book “Waking
the dead” that, “The heart is the creative powerhouse within you. It is the connecting point between you
and others – between you and God.
It is also the creative powerhouse within you.” Proverbs
4:23, it is referred to as the wellspring of life, and we are told to guard it
above all else. The apostle Paul
states in Ephesians 1:18, “I pray also that
the eyes of your heart may be enlightened.”
So as we peer into Ephesians 3:17, our goal is to discover
what is this heart that Christ is dwelling in through faith? It is important to understand that when
we are told in Scripture to “renew our minds” it is not referring to our brain,
but to a wonderful part of our being that “enables us to be aware of the world and our experiences,
to think, and to feel; the faculty of consciousness and thought.” (Taken
from the Dictionary) My dear
friend Bill Gillham gives this definition, “The mind (your “thinker”)
analyzes data and makes recommendations to your will.”
Often things are not what they seem, the heart and the mind
are the make up of our soul, and they need to be guarded, so that they are not
taken captive in the day to day struggles or battles in the war for our soul. We are given this advice, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as
wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians
5:15) There is a battle going on
for your soul, no, it is a war.
How do we guard our hearts and minds? Paul in his letter to the churches at
Philippi gave this great council, “Do not be
anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6,7)
We also have this insight from our Lord; “I
have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you
will have tribulation. But take
heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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