Jeremiah 17:10
The Message (MSG): “The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that
no one can figure out. But I, God,
search the heart and examine the mind. I
get to the heart of the human. get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to
be."
By Cynthia
Bailey-Rug
God is a god of getting to the root of things. God knows your intentions, whether good or bad. And, He will recompense you according to your intentions. For example, people who go to church every Sunday because they feel an obligation only, never will enjoy a closeness to God as someone who attends the same church out of a desire to learn more about God.
If you want to enjoy the best God has to offer, ask yourself, “What are my reasons for doing *fill in the blank*?” Be completely honest with yourself. If you honestly can’t say you are doing something to please God, or to bless someone, then why are you doing it? But, if you honestly can say you want to do this out of love for God or your fellow man, then get ready, because God will bless you abundantly for your gesture! Luke 6:38 says, “give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.” (ASV) A pure heart, one with right motives, makes God want to bless you. Again, see Colossians 3:23—24 which say, “whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ.” (ASV)
I also believe there is another meaning to this Scripture. The last part of it in the message translation says, “get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be." When I first read this, it jumped off my computer screen at me. It reminded me of how God wants to get to the root of problems, not simply treat the symptoms, like many people want to do. For example, the alcoholic who stops drinking, yet never searches for what caused him to start drinking heavily in the first place, and, as a result continually yells at his family. Or the person who takes asprin constantly for stress headaches, yet continues working seventy hours a week. Sure, they have fixed part of the problem, but God wants to get to the root of the problem, thus eliminating the problem and its disruptive symptoms. I think of it like weeding a garden—you can pluck the plant and you won't see the weed for a while, but as long as the root is there, you continually will have to fight that weed growing back. Whereas, if you remove it by its root, then the weed is gone permanently.
Do you fight constant “weeds” in your garden, such as anxiety, low self—esteem, depression or anger? If so, there is a way to finally be rid of them. A few years ago, a friend of mine, a Christian counselor at her church, showed me how to do this. When you are feeling some negative emotion rise up in you, as soon as you can, get alone and get quiet with God. Ask Him, “What is the source of this feeling?” He may show you brief flashes of something said to you as a child, or a traumatic situation you endured. Whatever it is, think about that situation. Remember how it made you feel. And tell God! He wants to help! Tell Him “that situation made me feel worthless/insecure/angry/sad…” and whatever other emotions you felt. Ask Him, “tell me the truth…should I feel worthless? Insecure? Tell me Your truth, Father!” This is when the real healing will come into your heart. God will speak His word, which is full of life, into your heart. That enables you to release the other negative emotions attached to that incident, it kills your weed at the root, in other words.
I know this sounds simple. Too simple to be effective, but I promise you, it works! I have done this time and time again in my life, and I swear by its effectiveness! This has enabled me to be set free from an overdeveloped sense of responsibility, panic attacks, anger and more. God is all about healing, and if you ask for His help, you will be amazed by how gently and thoroughly He can heal your heart.