The mind is conditioned to accept or reject whatever data is introduced to it. When some of the thoughts flow from the mind to the heart, the heart embraces what it receives, and a mindset is established. Subsequently, individuals establish their identity based on their perceptions. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov 23:7). The most intriguing question one could ask is, “Do you really know who you are?” You may know who you would like to think that you are, but who you think you are or who you may say that you are does not necessarily define you. The Scripture does not restrict your identity to the thoughts of the mind, but rather, the thoughts of the heart. The Bible speaks of the heart condemning those whose minds would never do such a thing. The Spirit searches the mind and the heart, but the deepest work is the work that must take place within the heart. You may force your mind to agree with your aspirations, and it can be changed with very little external influence. But the heart, during the time of silent reflections, may convict rather than justify unjust actions.

Fallen humanity has a fatal disease called ‘sin.’ The prognosis for sin is that it leaves no survivors. Every individual will eventually die because sin resides within our members. The wage that sin pays is death, yet death must work its way through the life of the unsuspecting. The poison of sin deadens the nerves and causes one to become insensitive to God’s Word of wisdom. Then, it looks for an environment to grow and reproduce after its kind. The heart of humanity was corrupted when Adam sinned and everything produced by him carried within itself the very nature of his fallen condition. There would be no remedy for his condition unless there existed a re-creation to replace the old one that was destined for decay and ruin. Wisdom has its beginning through the acknowledgement of mankind’s helpless state. Any effort on his part would merely further what has already been set in motion. The wisdom to repent is when one is wise enough to refrain from continuing the path of self-destruction where God takes away the heart of stone and replaces it with a heart of flesh. Sensitivity returns, and the voice of God can then be heard. A breakaway occurs when one follows Christ, rather than the crowd, wherever He leads. The Psalmist even acknowledged this when he said, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalms 90:12).

God adds value to life because He alone gives it meaning and introduces the formerly wayward individual to a life of purpose. Those who gain their lives on their own terms will lose the meaning assigned to life given to them by God, their Maker. However, the individual who is willing to allow the Lord to bring meaning and purpose to life will gain eternal life as a reward. To those who are the Lord’s, there is a reason to get up each morning. His mercy is new every morning, and His grace is sufficient to provide whatever is needed to complete whatever has been assigned to him. That is why we thank God for His wisdom, mercy, and grace!