My Paisley Chair

Occasionally, I feel the urge to recluse by retreating into the walled garden of myself to hide for a bit. I find solace for my soul by being still to recalibrate my heart, soul and mind. Most of the time, this is restorative. However, I have become keenly aware of the red flags. They caution me to avoid isolation and withdrawal.

Introspection – lost in the mirror of me!

I find that introspection quickly spirals into getting lost in the mirror of me. I need to remember that I cannot possibly know at that is within me. And I can trick myself. My mind is prone to wander leaving me to focus on peripheral issues. Personal insecurities distract me from the truth about WHO God says that I am, what I was created for, and how much Jesus loves me. No matter how long I look in the mirror and examine myself, IF I am not walking in obedience to the word of God, I can deceive myself.

Evidently this NOT a new problem. Scripture has a warning for us. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says! For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.” James 1:22-24

Starting Point and Finish Line

With resolve not to be overwhelmed in introspection, King David’s prayer is my starting point. Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Unless I give open access to Holy Spirit, recognize His presence, and meditate on the word of God, the outcome of introspection and self-examination is disastrous!

I dare not search for the depth of my heart without Holy Spirit’s guidance and scripture to light the way. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105. If I am left alone to discover the deep things of my heart with only the flashlight of my limited perspective, I will stumble and fall. God alone knows what lurks in the deep! (REALLY!) God is the ONLY one who can bind up a broken heart, soften a hard heart and/or create a new one.

My heart is a precious possession that must be protected. Guarding it is a serious thing that takes diligent attention, because it determines the course of my life! “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23

I hold the key!

As children we sang the sweet little song, “Into my heart, into my heart, come into my heart Lord Jesus. Come in today, come in to stay. Come into my heart Lord Jesus.” Even then, we all knew an invitation was necessary to gain entrance and access to one’s heart.

While we say that something or someone captured our heart, the truth is nothing can gain access unless we unlock the door and let it in. Dallas Willard said, “God has given to each one the key to their own heart”. What a precious gift, to hold the keys to our own heart! The key to my heart is MINE, to let in or keep out, any and everyone. Unless I decide to let them in, NOBODY can bust down the door of my heart!

Even Jesus waits for an invitation. To those He loves He said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 2:20 I have the right, authority and responsibility to limit access to what comes into my heart.

What does the Bible say?

There are some scary things about hearts listed Hebrews 3:7-14. (Scripture text below.)
• I can deceive myself. No need to blame the enemy of my soul… I do it to myself.
• I can harden my heart with rebellion.
• My heart can wander and go astray. It needs boundaries and limits.
• Unbelief in my heart will lead me away from God.

Juxtaposition

I have previously considered the comparison and contrast of reflection and introspection HERE’s the link . Guarding myself from falling into the abyss of introspection, I would only allow a quick glance backwards (reflection) as self-examination. However, I’m challenged now by another rabbit trail of thought.

Now, I’m considering the juxtaposition of Reflection and Revelation. Scripture says several things about “reflections” as in a mirror and water. (1 Corinthians 13:12, 2 Corinthians 3:18, James 1:23 & Proverbs 27:19) As with metal or glass mirrors and water reflections, distortions should be expected. Not only that, but reflections only reflect. DUH! They are easily forgotten, change in a nanosecond, and are wonky at best!

What I need is Holy Spirit’s supernatural revelation of what is in my heart! His perspective brings clarity and truth. Only with an open invitation for Him to search, know, test and reveal to me what is in my heart, can I feel secure and confident about taking inventory of heart issues. I am committed to letting Him be in charge of this process. He is the One who can “create in me a clean heart”! Psalm 51:10

It’s not my job!

I don’t have to look for dust bunnies of doubt, stubborn stains of rebellion, or toothpaste spots of insecurity on the mirror of my soul, Holy Spirit will point those out. The spring-loaded door of the laundry closet can wait until He is ready to sort it out with me. I can rest, waiting on Holy Spirit to reveal issues of offense, sin, forgiveness etc. Together we will deal with, and resolve the things that keep me from the abundant life God has planned for me.

Remember the bullets:

• Reflections: Surface, Distorted and Forgettable (Note to self: DODGE this one!)
• Revelations: Supernatural, Powerful Truth, bringing clarity and change.

Questions I ask myself:

• Have I invited the Holy Spirit to search my heart lately?
• Are there any areas of my heart I have declared “off limits” to the spotlight of God’s word?
• Do my thoughts line up with what God says about me, or am I distracted by distortions and insecurities?
• What steps do I need to take to be sensitive to Holy Spirit and obey God’s word?

What does the Bible say? (scriptures referenced)

James 1:22-24 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says! For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.”

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”11-14 (ASV) – For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not too hard for thee, neither is it far off.”

Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And light unto my path.”

Proverbs 4:23 “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

Revelation 2:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Hebrews 3:7-14 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’ As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’” Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Proverbs 27:19 As in water face reflects face, so a man’s heart reveals the man.

Psalms 51:10-12 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Until next time…