HIDDEN TENDENCIES OF THE HUMAN HEART
By Alfred Wabuko
Another important lesson from Genesis 16 is that the human heart is deceitful, and only God truly knows and understands it. Hagar appeared submissive while she was merely a servant. However, after she conceived and possessed what her mistress Sarai did not have, her attitude changed, revealing what had been hidden in her heart all along.
This serves as a mirror for all of us. At times, we may think we are humble simply because we have not yet been entrusted with influence, wealth, authority, or success. But if God were to elevate us today above our friends, colleagues, or even our own family members, would we still remain humble? Would we continue serving the Lord with the same sincerity?
Therefore, one of our daily prayers should be that God would search, purify, and transform our hearts. We should ask Him to remove every seed of pride, selfish ambition, greed, jealousy, and every hidden motive that does not glorify Him.
Scripture gives us several examples. In 2 Kings 8, when Hazael was sent by King Ben-Hadad to inquire of the prophet Elisha concerning the king's illness, Elisha began to weep. When Hazael asked why, the prophet revealed that God had shown him that Hazael would become king and would inflict great suffering upon Israel. Hazael could hardly believe it, yet everything came to pass exactly as the prophet had foretold.
Likewise, Peter confidently declared that he would never deny Jesus. Yet, when the moment of testing came, he denied Him three times before the rooster crowed (Matthew 26:69–75).
These examples remind us that there are hidden tendencies within the human heart that only God fully knows. Unless we continually surrender ourselves to Him, those weaknesses may become the cause of our downfall.
For some, the hidden struggle may be immorality; for others, greed, pride, bitterness, jealousy, or cruelty. The prophet Jeremiah declared:
" The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9).
Even we do not fully understand our own hearts. That is why our prayer should continually echo David's words in Psalm 51:10:
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Sometimes we have not fallen simply because the opportunity has not presented itself. When it does, what is hidden in the heart is revealed. Therefore, our confidence should never be in ourselves but in God's sustaining grace.
May this always be our prayer:
"Lord, help someone. Hold someone. Strengthen someone. Preserve someone—and let that someone be me."
By Alfred Wabuko
Another important lesson from Genesis 16 is that the human heart is deceitful, and only God truly knows and understands it. Hagar appeared submissive while she was merely a servant. However, after she conceived and possessed what her mistress Sarai did not have, her attitude changed, revealing what had been hidden in her heart all along.
This serves as a mirror for all of us. At times, we may think we are humble simply because we have not yet been entrusted with influence, wealth, authority, or success. But if God were to elevate us today above our friends, colleagues, or even our own family members, would we still remain humble? Would we continue serving the Lord with the same sincerity?
Therefore, one of our daily prayers should be that God would search, purify, and transform our hearts. We should ask Him to remove every seed of pride, selfish ambition, greed, jealousy, and every hidden motive that does not glorify Him.
Scripture gives us several examples. In 2 Kings 8, when Hazael was sent by King Ben-Hadad to inquire of the prophet Elisha concerning the king's illness, Elisha began to weep. When Hazael asked why, the prophet revealed that God had shown him that Hazael would become king and would inflict great suffering upon Israel. Hazael could hardly believe it, yet everything came to pass exactly as the prophet had foretold.
Likewise, Peter confidently declared that he would never deny Jesus. Yet, when the moment of testing came, he denied Him three times before the rooster crowed (Matthew 26:69–75).
These examples remind us that there are hidden tendencies within the human heart that only God fully knows. Unless we continually surrender ourselves to Him, those weaknesses may become the cause of our downfall.
For some, the hidden struggle may be immorality; for others, greed, pride, bitterness, jealousy, or cruelty. The prophet Jeremiah declared:
" The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9).
Even we do not fully understand our own hearts. That is why our prayer should continually echo David's words in Psalm 51:10:
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Sometimes we have not fallen simply because the opportunity has not presented itself. When it does, what is hidden in the heart is revealed. Therefore, our confidence should never be in ourselves but in God's sustaining grace.
May this always be our prayer:
"Lord, help someone. Hold someone. Strengthen someone. Preserve someone—and let that someone be me."
HIDDEN TENDENCIES OF THE HUMAN HEART
By Alfred Wabuko
Another important lesson from Genesis 16 is that the human heart is deceitful, and only God truly knows and understands it. Hagar appeared submissive while she was merely a servant. However, after she conceived and possessed what her mistress Sarai did not have, her attitude changed, revealing what had been hidden in her heart all along.
This serves as a mirror for all of us. At times, we may think we are humble simply because we have not yet been entrusted with influence, wealth, authority, or success. But if God were to elevate us today above our friends, colleagues, or even our own family members, would we still remain humble? Would we continue serving the Lord with the same sincerity?
Therefore, one of our daily prayers should be that God would search, purify, and transform our hearts. We should ask Him to remove every seed of pride, selfish ambition, greed, jealousy, and every hidden motive that does not glorify Him.
Scripture gives us several examples. In 2 Kings 8, when Hazael was sent by King Ben-Hadad to inquire of the prophet Elisha concerning the king's illness, Elisha began to weep. When Hazael asked why, the prophet revealed that God had shown him that Hazael would become king and would inflict great suffering upon Israel. Hazael could hardly believe it, yet everything came to pass exactly as the prophet had foretold.
Likewise, Peter confidently declared that he would never deny Jesus. Yet, when the moment of testing came, he denied Him three times before the rooster crowed (Matthew 26:69–75).
These examples remind us that there are hidden tendencies within the human heart that only God fully knows. Unless we continually surrender ourselves to Him, those weaknesses may become the cause of our downfall.
For some, the hidden struggle may be immorality; for others, greed, pride, bitterness, jealousy, or cruelty. The prophet Jeremiah declared:
" The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9).
Even we do not fully understand our own hearts. That is why our prayer should continually echo David's words in Psalm 51:10:
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Sometimes we have not fallen simply because the opportunity has not presented itself. When it does, what is hidden in the heart is revealed. Therefore, our confidence should never be in ourselves but in God's sustaining grace.
May this always be our prayer:
"Lord, help someone. Hold someone. Strengthen someone. Preserve someone—and let that someone be me."
English
Arabic
French
Spanish
Deutsch
Turkish
Dutch
Italiano
Russian
Romaian
Portuguese (Brazil)
Greek
हिन्दी