Give Me Your Heart

Of all the affections God has endowed us with, desires are the most earnest and vigorous.  Thomas Manton said of them, “Desire does all that is done in the world; for it lifts up the soul to action, that we may possess the things we desire.  I desire it, and therefore I labor for it.  Therefore the main thing that God craves from us is our desires.” “My son, give me your heart” Proverbs 23:26.  Of all desires, those which draw our hearts to love and seek God and spiritual things should have the greatest influence in our lives; we should carefully nourish them.  The most noble objects for our desires will be found in God’s word.  Our affections need to be guided to right objects, and restrained from harmful ones.  The importance of this for our spiritual lives cannot be overstated.  “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” Proverbs 4:23.  We speak and act out of what fills our hearts.