“For you look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God.” Psalm 7:9 NLT
A surgeon’s eyes look where others’ eyes don’t.
While in his sixties, Dad was diagnosed with a defective heart valve. He could have a mechanical valve or a pig’s valve implanted. He chose the mechanical. Shortly after the surgery, the valve malfunctioned. We took him to Atlanta for a second surgery.
In both instances, surgeons were able to see what I never have-and don’t want to: the inside of a chest. Scalpels cut apart Dad’s chest and rib spreaders separated his ribs, allowing the doctors to see my father’s heart and all other organs that God hid behind the rib cage. They could watch the heart beating, see the valves working, and observe the blood pumping and flowing.
Had I been there, I wouldn’t have watched long before passing out. But the doctors and nurses take a regular view of people’s insides. They see what most people never witness.
God has the ability to do the same. He made us, knows every intricate part of our anatomy, and understands how all the parts work and fit together. He knows which bone is connected to which bone-and didn’t have to attend medical school to learn. But His look goes deeper than the physical.
God looks into my mind and heart. Not merely at all the electrical forces taking place in the brain and not just at all the pumping of blood that occurs in the heart. He sees with eyes I can’t. God sees the motives behind my actions. When I do a good deed, He knows if I’ve done it with honorable reasons. He knows if my heart is sensitive to others’ needs and if it’s tender toward Him. He sees the hurts and the damage done by others.
Pretending is a waste of time. God gets to the heart of the matter. I may fool others, but God knows what’s really pumping inside of me. My heart and mind are open books before Him.
The good news is that what’s broken is fixable-just as my dad’s heart valve was. Improper motives, unhealthy emotions, hardened hearts, hidden agendas, unforgiveness, hurts. None of these pose a problem for God. All we have to do is allow Him to perform a little surgery.
God sees what you can’t in your heart and mind. Go to the God of the deep for the healing you need.
Prayer: Father, look deeply into our hearts and minds. We ask You to heal our hurts and sharpen our minds.
Martin Wiles Hodges, South Carolina, USA