Hidden Person of the Heart II

Each morning she awakens with the same thoughts racing through her mind. The children need to be fed, the dog needs to be walked and I need to prepare for work. Can you relate to her? But there is one thing that needs preparation! She goes to the bathroom and puts on her make-up before the mirror. With her face reflecting in the mirror, this thought enters her mind: “Rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” (I Peter 3: 4) She smiles. Having a gentle and quiet spirit in a busy household! YES! How do you prepare the hidden person to have gentleness and quietness?

Down the stairs she rushes, heading towards the noise from the kitchen. The children are hungry and breakfast must be prepared. But there is still one thing that needs to be prepared! The school bus will be arriving soon and lunches and school books and children’s school bags are waiting at the door. Time now controls this mother’s emotions. In her heart, she knows this truth about control: “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5: 22, 23NLT) How this mother longs to have those qualities within her heart!

Finally, the house is quiet! This is when the preparation of the heart begins. With a Bible in hand, she starts to read this: “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.” (Galatians 5: 24 NLT) She ponders about the reflection in the mirror and the thought about the gentle and quiet person hidden in the heart. How do you become gentle and quiet in your heart? Remembering that lesson from Sunday school on Ephesians, she turns the pages to this: “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.” (Ephesians 3: 16 NLT) A prayer is quickly said. It is time to go to work.

While sitting in the car, this thought entered her mind: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” (Proverbs 4: 23 NLT) The preparation of the heart is complete when she protects and seeks the gentle, quiet spirit, which is very precious to Abba. The love of Christ held her and His Holy Spirit strengthening and renewing her hidden person of the heart.

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