‘My heart is like a country but half subdued, where all things are in an unsettled state, and mutinies and insurrections are a daily happening.’ – John Newton

The topography of our heart is vast, varied, and largely unexplored. There are corners of unreached people groups, languages, and cultures we do not understand. Indeed it is true, ‘I’m a mystery to myself…’ (Rom 7:15, TPT).

To ourselves, we are a mystery. To God, nothing is unknown:

‘O LORD, You have searched me and known me!

For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

My frame was not hidden from You when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.’ Ps 139:1,13,15-16)

As we step into the mystery of our own hearts, we follow the God who makes known to us the path of life (Ps 16:11). He does not ravage, or colonize, He invites us to bring our half subdued, unsettled states of mutinies and insurrection into submission to Himself (James 4:7). Submission to Christ is the exchange of our death for His life (Matt 10:39).

‘For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.’ Galatians 5:1

Lord, You have searched and known us. We are not a mystery to you. There is no hidden part of our heart that You do not pursue with Your kindness. Help us, by Your Spirit to bring every corner of ourselves into submission under Your rule and reign. For Your glory, and our good. We love You, in Christ’s name, amen.

Known,