Eventually, our physical hearts will give out. But not our spiritual hearts. Our spiritual heart is the part of us that lives forever. Isn’t it interesting, though, that the part of us that lives forever gets the least amount of attention? When’s the last time you looked in the mirror and thought about your inner qualities? Your integrity. Your peace. Your purity.
When was the last serious conversation you had with a friend? What did you talk about? Externals? The valuable stuff in life? We are conditioned to over-focus on the externals in life. We give what’s on the outside our highest priority with little regard to who we are becoming on the inside. The part of us that matters most. The part of us that will live forever. The part of us that listens to the voice of God. The part of us that grows in wisdom. The part of us that lives with joy. The part of us that experiences the good that life has to offer!
Daniel is one of my favorite examples of a heart focused on the right stuff. A teenager with a heart like a pristine, springfed lake. Pure, balanced, focused, insightful, and full of life. I talk with a lot of college students, and Daniel is the best example for how to approach college. Why? Think about it. Brand new environment. New school. New friends. New teachers. And what was his response to all this? The first thing that he did? Did he try to fit in by compromising his integrity? Daniel “purposed in his heart” not to defile himself. He made a conscious decision to care more about his “inner person,” his spiritual self, than how people saw him. He set himself apart from the darkness. He said, “I choose to fill my heart with God.” And the result of his desire? He caused his classmates, a king, and a nation to look higher.
I believe that if you will make the same decision Daniel did, to fill your heart with God, you will live up to potential you didn’t even know you had. If what is inside your heart determines your destiny, then take the lead from Daniel, and let your heart be guided by God. Why not make a commitment today to live like Daniel and purpose in your heart that you will live for God with all that you are?