Me Thinks

This week I read about Samuel traveling to the home of Jesse with a horn of oil. The Lord said unto Samuel, "Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature because I have refused him; for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

Samuel met the seven elder sons of Jesse and then asked Jesse, "Are here all thy children?" When David was brought in from keeping the sheep, the Lord told Samuel, "Arise, anoint him: for this is he."

The line "The Lord looketh on the heart" intrigued me, which led to study this week on the condition of the heart.

I learned that hearts can be removed far from God (Isaiah 29:13) or set upon treasures, or the things of the world (2 Nephi 9:30, Doctrine and Covenants 121:35). People are sometimes puffed up in the pride of their hearts (2 Nephi 28:15). Hearts can be hardened, proud, and turned (2 Nephi 33:2, Doctrine and Covenants 42:40, Abraham 1:7). Not surprisingly, Satan desires to get hold of our hearts (4 Nephi 1:28).

Shall not God search this out? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart (Psalm 44:21, Rev. 2:23, Luke 16:15). 

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might (Deut. 6:5). God asks us to have clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:4). We are invited to cast away our transgressions and make a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 18:31). Zion is the pure heart, and the Savior specifically mentions "Blessed are the pure in heart" (Doctrine and Covenants 97:21, Matthew 5:8). The prophet Alma explains that it is Christ that changes our hearts, and Alma invites us to plant a seed in our hearts (Alma 5:7, 32:28). We are invited to have our hearts full and drawn out in prayer unto him, and to offer a broken heart and a contrite spirit as a sacrifice unto the Lord (Alma 34:27, 3 Nephi 9:20). Come unto the Lord will all your heart (Mormon 9:27). See that ye serve him with all your heart (Doctrine and Covenants 4:2). Let thine heart be softened (Doctrine and Covenants 121:4). In summary the Lord states, "I the Lord require the hearts of the children of men (Doctrine and Covenants 64:22).

It is not enough to be where I am supposed to be, or do what I am supposed to be doing. My heart must be there too. I want to be completely in. I desire to offer the Lord my heart--all my affection, my attention, my desires, and my love.