Why you shouldn't say "God knows my heart" if you're not living in obedience and what to do instead.

Have you heard this phrase before?

Maybe you've said it. "God knows my heart." This is a phrase often said by a person who believes in God but doesn't live like they do. The phrase is said like it's a good thing. As if it's enough to save them. As if God will overlook their disobedience.

Before the phrase is said, they're telling you they are living outside of obedience. For example: "I know I shouldn't spend the night at my boyfriend's/ girlfriend's place but God knows my heart." Or "I don't go to church but God knows my heart"

Of course God knows your heart!

It's because of the condition of your heart that's preventing you from living in obedience. God sees that. He knows. To say that God knows your heart does not necessarily make it a positive thing.

Here is what the Bible says about it:

• Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

• Matthew 15:18-20 “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of a heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.

• Romans 2:5 “But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.”

You shouldn't always trust your heart. It's a red flag when the results are like that of Matthew 15:18-20. Essentially, everything we do- all our actions and even our thoughts come from the heart.

With that being said, it can't be assumed that your heart condition is something God is going to approve of. The heart is deceitful, stubborn, and unreliable. Stop saying God knows your heart when you are not living righteously. It won't help you in any way.

What Can Be Done Instead.

There are two things you can do instead: pray and ask someone to pray for you. It's pretty simple, right?

You should ask God for a clean heart and a renewed spirit. This means you accept the fact that you are not where you need to be spiritually and mentally.

King David wrote in Psalm 51:10: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Keep in mind this was the anointed king of Israel. God had chosen David to rule over Israel. Even so, he made a couple of major mistakes. He chose to stray from the righteous path for selfish reasons. David composed this psalm as a result of conviction.

Tell someone to pray for you instead of coming up with excuses on why you're not living righteously.

Now, if you're on the other side of this ask the person what they mean when they say "God knows my heart." And point to them to what the Bible says. Judge righteously. Be sure to pray for them.

A positive heart condition.

The heart isn't always a place for deceit or evil. It can and should be a place of purity and something you must take care of. As it says in Proverbs 4:23: "Keep your heart with all vigilance for from it flow the springs of life."

Guard your heart because the LORD will look into it "and test the mind." God will give to you according to the fruit of your deeds (Jeremiah 17:10) which come from the heart.

So when God does see your heart, you want it to be in a pure and blameless condition.

Remember God came down to earth to make us new through Jesus. It's one of the many amazing things Christ did when He walked on earth. You are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

I'll leave you with this verse from Psalm 119:10: "With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!" Amen.