what do you keep in your heart

 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19

This verse has always stood out to me. Mary had been visited by an angel and given a tremendous message about a miracle baby. We all know the story. after his birth, shepherds showed up to worship this little baby, the Messiah, with their own story of angels bringing a message.  Mary experienced the miracles of the birth, the visits from the shepherds and the wise men. She knew who her baby was. She kept all these things in her heart. She pondered them.  She placed great value on these things. She wanted to remember them, to cherish them, and be able to marvel upon them over time. She was probably the one who told the disciples and the writers of the gospels about the birth of Jesus and the visitors who showed up. She may have been the one who became the messenger about the miracle baby born to be the Messiah.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11

David wrote about hiding the word of God in his heart. He wanted the word of God to be in his heart to keep him from sinning. He not only kept the word of God in his heart, he allowed the word to affect him, lead him and change him. He allowed the word of God to challenge him and humble him when he needed it. He loved the word of God. He read it and learned it. 

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Luke 6:45

We, too, need to hide the word of God in our hearts. We need to keep the testimonies and the experiences we have with God in our hearts and minds to keep us. What we place in our hearts is what we think about or ponder. Mary pondered, thought about all she had seen. She would probably remember it and pour over it, recounting the details. We can ponder and think about the word of God and the things he has done for us. The testimonies and experiences we have with God can become what we ponder. Recount the details of what he has done to be lifted up and encouraged. When we think on the things of God, we are lifted up in faith and strengthened in spirit.  The treasure of our heart is what we value and what we think about. It becomes the memories we recall and what we tell others. The treasure of our hearts should be what God has done and his mighty deeds. I want to think about the word of God and his wonderful blessings. He has kept me daily, provided for me and has performed miracles. I have heard others testify of God's great love and what he does for them. He is good. I want to ponder these things. I want my heart full of his love and goodness and the testimonies of him showing me how good he is. 

When my heart is full of the things of God, my mouth will speak of Him.  I want to be the mouthpiece that tells others of a great and mighty God who is full of love and goodness. I want my testimony to pour forth out of my mouth that others may know the goodness of God.  I want the abundance of my heart to be completely devoted to the evidence of God's great love for me and his people.  I want to be able to say that like Mary, I kept these things in my heart and pondered them. 

examine yourself

 The following verse gives us a command. 

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV

When I looked at the definition of 'examine'  it is from the Greek:  peirazo, meaning "scrutinize," "discipline"  and in Oxford dictionary

1. inspect (someone or something) in detail to determine their nature or condition; investigate thoroughly.
2. test the knowledge or proficiency of (someone) by requiring them to answer questions or perform tasks.

Paul was directing the believers to inspect their hearts and lives to determine the condition they were in. We also need to take a good look at our condition.  Are we serving God with pure hearts, free of things that hinder our faith or walk with God? What are our priorities  and what is the testimony  we are giving to those around us? 

Joel 2:12-13 

12Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

13And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

All of our heart needs to be given to God, no part held back. Rend your heart means wring it out to remove the sin and give it to God. 

2 Timothy 3:1-5

 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

² For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

³ Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

⁴ Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

⁵ Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

This is a list of the things that can draw us away from God. There are many Christians who have a form of godliness but deny the power of God.  We cannot just think we are doing okay when our lives do not reflect any amount of who God is. If His power is not evident in our daily actions, words and attitudes,  we are missing the power of God and denying him. 

Titus 1:15-16

¹⁵ Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

¹⁶ They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Titus explained this as being defiled and not pure. Defiled in mind, conscience,  and action. I do not want to look into my heart and mind to find I am defiled before God. 

Ezekiel described such defilement  when he had a vision about God showing him a hole in the Temple wall. He dug in to find that abominations were taking place within the hidden parts of the temple. The leaders and people of Israel no longer served God nor kept pure, righteous hearts acceptable to God. They served self, pleasure, pride, idols and allowed much sin to take over their hearts. 

Titus 2:11-14

¹¹ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

¹² Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

¹³ Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

¹⁴ Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

God gave us grace for salvation.  His Spirit teaches us to turn away from the ungodly things and live godly. If we ignore the prompting and teaching of the Spirit, we will fall. He will lead us by his Spirit away from sin into purity. We will be eager and zealous to be in the will of God as we rely on His Spirit within us. He sent His Spirit to give us power and authority over the enemy who seeks to deceive and destroy. We cannot give sin a place, rather we seek God.

1 John 3:19-22

¹⁹ And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

²⁰ For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

²¹ Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

²² And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

When we examine our hearts and find we are not condemned, we are able to be confident  to stand before God. We can be sure we walk in truth, ask and believe we receive. God will receive our petition because we are in obedience and pleasing in his sight. Israel was not pleasing and ended up in exile. We have access to grace and mercy. We can run to him anytime we need to make ourselves right in his sight, and see to be in obedience to his word. 

Take time to examine yourself. Find any area that needs to be turned over him completely.  He will take it, clean it up, purify it, set it right,  forgive it, and make it pure for his purpose.  He wants to show you how precious you are, but we have the choice to give him all of our hearts or retain the secret areas from him. We can hold back the areas we like, the secret sins, the pride, the unbelief, the fear, the need to control, but will miss out on many blessings, peace, and the very Will of God if we do not submit wholly, completely  to Him. Examine yourself and call on Him to take it all in his hands. You will find He is ready to receive you as you are. He will change you, cleanse you and make you pure and righteous. He will be pleased.