“And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the
LORD.” (2Ch 12:14 AV)
The word ‘…prepared…’ here means to establish or fix.
It assumes a process of several steps that result in the heart being
established to seek the LORD. Think of
baking a cake or setting concrete. There
are certain steps that need to be taken before the goal is reached. Measuring the ingredients. Attaining the correct temperate for the
liquids. Preparing the surface. These steps are taken before a soft and
malleable substance is poured into place and hardens to a set structure. This is perhaps a key that is missing for
consistent spiritual growth and holy living.
Most of our preaching falls on unprepared hearts. Most of our devotional reading enters an
unprepared heart. There are steps that
should be taken. Objects or concerns of
the heart that should be surrendered.
The heart needs to be prepared before it can seek and follow the will of
God. Things like prayer, confession of
sin, yielding of the heart to whatever the Spirit might reveal, discipline of
the emotions, etc. Bringing the heart
into subjection before the will of God is known is what the Spirit intends for
us to understand. Like pouring the cake mix
into the pan or the concrete mix into a hole, our hearts that are undisciplined
and self-willed need to be confined and controlled. Our hearts need to be subjected to boundaries
which will form it into that which please the LORD.
This can be a spiritual discipline which we exercise. However, the LORD often uses circumstances in
our lives to assist in this process. A
trial of life makes it easier to listen to the LORD. Confusion over a decision often opens our
ears to the Spirit’s guidance. The
chastening of the LORD humbles the heart that it might conform to the word of
God. Either way, unless the heart is prepared
ahead of time to seek the LORD, the evil will always result.
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