What Is In Your Heart?

I used to have a pastor who would say, "As soon as you start walking with the Lord your God, there will be someone assigned against you to test you." How right he was!

In Deuteronomy 8:2, Moses reminds the Israelites, "Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these 40 years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart..."

I believe that in this hour we are in, we are each being tested in order to reveal what is in our hearts. The tests are never the same for any two people - but rest assured that there is probably someone in your life right now that has been assigned against you and they do not even know it. You are being humbled - and it is a test. How you handle it will reveal what is in your heart - and although this may be painful, it is always Yahweh's purpose and intention to cause us to examine our hearts that we might repent (teshuva) and come back to His straight and narrow path.

Was Bathsheba assigned against David? Was she out bathing where he could see her so that David's problem with lust could be revealed? I don't know...but I do know that when he saw the wickness in his heart he prayed the prayer that became Psalm 51: "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation (your Yeshua!) and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you." Not only was David convicted of his own sin, but he became desirous of helping others turn from their sinfulness as well - just as we should be doing in the Body of Messiah.

If Yahweh used Bathsheba to test David, she was completely unaware. Those assigned against us are probably completely unaware as well - because it is usually not people trying to throw us off course, but the spirit of Satan who works through them. When Yeshua explained to Peter the divine plan of redemption that included his agonizing death on the tree, Peter rebuked him and said, "Never, Lord! This will never happen to you!" And Yeshua responded, "Get behind me, Satan." He was not calling his friend Peter "Satan." He was speaking to the spirit operating through Peter, trying to tempt Him to forget about the Cross and take the easy way out.

As the Israelites wandered through the desert being humbled and disciplined by many tests, and by those assigned against them, Moses reminded them that this was "to teach them that man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."

Is someone in your life on assignment to test you? Just be certain that all your responses line up with the Word of God. Be aware that this person probably has no idea they are tempting you in some way - and do not come against the person, but rebuke the spirit of the enemy that is working to throw you off course. Remember that Moses said to the people, "Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these 40 years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you." (Deut. 8:4-5)

Thank You, Papa, for loving us enough to test us and discipline us. Thank you for calling us Your children. Thank you for providing for us on the journey - and giving us your Holy Spirit to guide us. Amen.