Topical Encyclopedia
The heart, in biblical terms, often represents the center of human emotion, thought, and will. It is the seat of our deepest convictions and desires. Scripture frequently emphasizes the importance of trusting in God with all one's heart, underscoring a complete and unwavering reliance on Him.
Biblical Exhortation to TrustProverbs 3:5-6 is perhaps the most well-known passage that instructs believers to trust in God wholeheartedly: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" . This passage highlights the necessity of surrendering our own understanding and wisdom in favor of divine guidance. Trusting God with all our heart involves a total commitment to His will and purposes, acknowledging His sovereignty in every aspect of life.
The Heart's Role in FaithThe heart is central to faith and belief.
Romans 10:10 states, "For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved" . This verse illustrates that genuine faith originates from the heart, leading to justification and salvation. The heart's belief is not merely intellectual assent but a deep-seated trust in God's promises and character.
Guarding the HeartScripture also advises believers to guard their hearts diligently.
Proverbs 4:23 instructs, "Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life" . The heart is the wellspring of life, influencing thoughts, actions, and attitudes. By guarding our hearts, we protect our trust in God from being compromised by doubt, fear, or worldly influences.
The Heart's TransformationThe Bible speaks of the heart's transformation as essential to a life of trust in God.
Ezekiel 36:26 promises, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" . This transformation is a divine work, enabling believers to trust God fully and live in accordance with His will.
Examples of Trusting HeartsThroughout Scripture, there are numerous examples of individuals who trusted God with all their hearts. Abraham, known as the father of faith, demonstrated unwavering trust when he obeyed God's call to leave his homeland (
Genesis 12:1-4). David, despite his flaws, was described as a man after God's own heart (
1 Samuel 13:14), exemplifying a life of trust and reliance on God.
The Heart's Struggle with TrustDespite the call to trust God fully, the human heart often struggles with doubt and fear.
Jeremiah 17:9 warns, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" . This verse acknowledges the heart's propensity to lead us astray, highlighting the need for divine intervention and continual reliance on God's grace to maintain a trusting heart.
Prayer and TrustPrayer is a vital practice in cultivating a heart that trusts God.
Philippians 4:6-7 encourages believers, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" . Through prayer, believers can express their trust in God, seeking His peace and guidance in all circumstances.
ConclusionThe heart's trust in God is a foundational aspect of the Christian faith. By trusting in Him with all our heart, believers align themselves with His purposes, experience His peace, and live out their faith in a world that often challenges such trust.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Proverbs 3:5Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Library
"But it is Good for Me to Draw Near to God: I have Put My Trust in ...
... all in words confess to be the best, should not this ... are the holy resolution of a
holy heart, concerning that ... We shall speak a word of the thing itself, then ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon v but it is.htm
A Means to Discern this Imperfect Love.
... the diffidence should become so excessive, that we should seem to ... of future assaults,
when our heart seems to fail us, it is sufficient that we desire courage ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xi a means to.htm
The Imitation of Christ
... Entire Resignation of Self to Obtain Freedom of Heart. ... Fifty-Ninth Chapter: All Hope
and Trust Are to Be ... The Great Reverence With Which We Should Receive Christ. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kempis/the imitation of christ/
Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity. Trust in the Lord with all ...
... How weak are we, how ignorant, how blind,. ... Within my heart, lest I should
madly bring. ... Nor let my proud heart dictate, Lord, to Thee,. ...
/.../lyra germanica the christian year/twenty-second sunday after trinity trust.htm
How Divine Love Makes Use of all the Passions and Affections of ...
... However, we must take courage, putting our trust in our ... loves of our soul cause great
travails to our heart. ... her two children that the elder should serve the ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xx how divine love.htm
Fenelon -- the Saints Converse with God
... when we prostrate ourselves at Thy feet, we do not ... Augustine observes that the failure
of Peter should not be ... own strength, to do what his own heart dictated. ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons vol 2/fenelon the saints converse.htm
The Inhabitant of the Rock
... It is strange that we should turn away, as we are all ... Waves dash and break on the
surface region of the ocean; get down deeper, nearer the heart of things ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the inhabitant of the rock.htm
Of the Works which God Works in all in Common and of Five Kinds of ...
... live in worldly employments and in multiplicity of heart. ... desire their prayers, and
put their trust therein ... And therefore we should all conceive of God in this ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter v of the works.htm
Waiting on God
... we take Christ for what God intended we should, our religion ... But we are in danger
of standing there, and ... God above all circumstances, filling my heart and life ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/the masters indwelling/iii waiting on god.htm
The Best of All, God is with Us
... Oh, that we might all do what we can for him who laid ... upon what they had to do:
"Now set your heart and your ... to you, nor is there any need that I should do so. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 42 1896/the best of all god.htm
Resources
What does it mean that God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7)? | GotQuestions.orgHow could David be considered a man after God's own heart? | GotQuestions.orgIs it biblical to ask Jesus into your heart? | GotQuestions.orgHeart: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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