"IT'S EASIER TO REPLACE YOUR SHOES THAN YOUR HEART!"

Written and preached by David P. Nolte



PROVERBS 3:1-12

The American Heart Association put out a poster that says, "It's Easier To Replace Your Shoes Than Your Heart!" The poster goes on to say, "Exercise can help reduce your risk of heart disease. Find out your fitness level. Then set a plan for being more active. Retest yourself occasionally. Nothing motivates like success." We ought to be concerned with our hearts! Not only the physical heart, but the innermost part of our being, our emotions, our wills, our desires. The wise man said, "Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life." Proverbs 4:23. Jesus said, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man." Mark 7:21-23. And He said, "The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart." Luke 6:45. If we recognize the condition of our hearts, and if we are aware of a needed change, let's cry out with the Psalmist, "Create in me a clean heart, O God!" Psalms 51:10. So, what kind of heart would God create in answer to that prayer? In a moving account of a father, his daughter and the entwining of their hearts, I see a good lesson for us all about the kind of heart God desires. It seems that a man and his wife had a daughter; she was bright and cheerful, and they loved her very much. When she was little, Daddy would pick her up, hum a tune, hug her close and say, "I love you, little girl!" Those words were sweet to her; she loved hearing them and treasured them in her heart. And that's the kind of heart God wants to create within us!
  1. A HEART THAT TREASURES GOD'S WORD COMPLIANTLY: V1:
    1. In another Psalm, we read, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy word. With all my heart I have sought Thee; Do not let me wander from Thy commandments. Thy word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against Thee." Psalms 119:9-11.
      1. It is one thing to have a Bible in the home; most do. It is another thing to have the Bible in the hand; many do. It is yet another thing to have the Bible in the head; some do. But it is a life changing thing to have the Bible in the heart; do you?
      2. Paul said, "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God." Colossians 3:16.
    2. If we would follow Jesus, His Word must be within us. It must be:
      1. More than merely Jewish literature.
      2. More than merely philosophical rhetoric.
      3. More than merely a religious book with no practical application to real life.
      4. Our chart and compass to guide us through life. The Psalmist cried out, "Thy word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path." Psalms 119:105.
      5. That unique revelation from God that teaches us, rebukes us, corrects us, and trains us in right living.
    3. James 1:21-24 "Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was." So, His word is
      1. not only to be appreciated but applied.
      2. not only to be learned but lived.
      3. not only to be considered but complied with.
    4. God said, "Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!" Deuteronomy 5:29.

When she was little, those words, "I love you, little girl." were precious to her. But as the little girl grew into her young teens, when Daddy would hug her and say, "I love you, little girl." she would wriggle loose and say, peevishly, "I'm not a little girl anymore!" Daddy would laugh and say, "But to me, you'll always be my little girl." She grew and left home and went into the world. The more she learned about life and about herself, the more she learned about her Daddy. She regained respect for this man who could always express his love. No matter where she went in the world, her Daddy would always call her to say, "I love you, little girl." And she learned again to esteem him and to treat him with honor and kindness instead of irritability and impatience. That's the kind of heart God would create within us:

  1. A HEART THAT TREATS OTHERS COURTEOUSLY: V3:
    1. There are two terms here we ought to notice:
      1. Kindness: The Hebrew word means mercy or good deeds.
      2. Truth: The Hebrew word means stability, trustworthiness, faithfulness.
    2. How do we treat one another? Is it with kindness and truth?
      1. Or Do we gossip and back-bite and devour one another?
      2. Do we speak contemptuously and unkindly to and about one another?
      3. Do we criticize and find fault with and belittle each other?
      4. Do we complain and pout and whine and get angry when someone makes a decision we don't like?
      5. And do we desire revenge and satisfaction when we are wronged?
      6. Or do we forgive and tolerate and excuse others?
      7. Do we encourage, and edify and stimulate others?
      8. Do we speak softly and gently and sweetly?
      9. And do we perform helpful and benevolent acts of service with no motive to be recognized or thanked or approved or repaid?
    3. Well, how do we treat others? God wants a heart of kindness and truth, a heart that treats others courteously.
    4. The Bible says, "And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32. Ask Him to create such a heart if yours needs replacing.

Though she had not always been as kind to her father as she should have been, he still loved her as his little girl. After a few years, the little girl who was not so little any more received a phone call. Her Daddy had a stroke. He couldn't talk anymore; he couldn't smile or laugh or walk or hug or tell his little girl that he loved her. She went to visit him, and as she went to his side he looked so small and not strong anymore. He tried to speak to her, but no words came. The not-so-little-anymore girl, felt small again, and she did the only thing she could do. She climbed up onto the bed next to her Daddy, drew her arms around his frail shoulders and placed her head upon his chest. She thought of many things; their wonderful times, and how she always felt cherished and protected by this special man. And she remembered his words that always comforted her, "I love you, little girl." And she rested confidently next to him with her head nested on his chest. And that's the kind of heart God wants to create within us.

  1. A HEART THAT TRUSTS GOD COMPLETELY: V5:
    1. The word for trust here means to run to for refuge and to be confident.
    2. Those who trust God will find Him a sure hiding place!
      1. David said, "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalms 18:2.
      2. The Sons of Korah said, "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble." Psalms 46:1.
      3. Isaiah said "For Thou hast been a defense for the helpless, A defense for the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; For the breath of the ruthless Is like a rain storm against a wall." Isaiah 25:4.
    3. We could trust in ourselves or in someone or something else but we'd be sorry.
      1. Our own righteousness won't save us;
      2. Our sincerity doesn't cut it and our best efforts are vain.
      3. Our allies can't deliver us.
      4. Our richest earthly securities will flee and fail us.
      5. Only He is worthy to be trusted! David said, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him." Psalm 28:7.
    4. Who will you trust when the chips are down? Where will your heart rest in the day of trouble?

There on the bed with her Daddy, with her head on his chest, she felt grief that she would hear no more the words, "I love you, little girl." But then while she rested there, something wonderful happened. She heard what she wanted to hear. Each beat of his heart, sounding in her ear, spoke out the words his lips could no longer form, "I love you ... I love you ... I love you ... little girl." And she was comforted. If you listen carefully, the heart of Jesus beats out that same wonderful message: "I love you ... I love you ... I love you ... little child." Hear that and be comforted. But because He loves you so much, He wants to create in you a heart like His own; a heart that always obeys God's commands, a heart that overflows with kindness and truth, and a heart of complete trust in the Heavenly Father. Some things, like shoes, we can change for ourselves -- but it takes His power and grace to change our hearts. The Psalmist said, "So teach us to number our days, That we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12. What kind of heart are you presenting to God? A heart of pride? Anger? Stubbornness? Wounded feelings? Self-centeredness? Will you ask Him to change your heart? And will you grant Him permission to do that for you today? Tell Him you do, as we sing our invitation hymn.

Adapted from Chicken Soup For The Soul, #1, Canfield & Hansen, Health Communications, Inc., Deerfield Beach, Fla.

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