Giving Definition to the Heart
15 One of the most difficult, yet rewarding journeys is the discovery of what which is within your heart.
Saint Augustine prayed, “Lord, let me know myself, let me know you.” Augustine equated knowledge of self with knowledge of God. Why would Augustine say something like this? Outside of Augustine this is a theme common in the contemplative tradition of Christianity, the path to the knowledge of God lies within the heart of the believer.
Many of us remain dimly aware that there is something inside that defines us, yet we never discover what that thing is. Upon first glimpse we are generally repulsed by what we see. We come face to face with the reality that there are things in our heart that we are not aware of, things that we do not like. But with patience and grace, the initial shock will be transformed to a glorious image.
“Within the heart are unfathomable depths. It is but a small vessel and yet dragons and lions are there, and there poisonous creatures and all the treasures of wickedness; rough uneven paths are there, and gaping chasms. There likewise is God, there are the angels, there life and the Kingdom, there light and the Apostles, the heavenly cities and the treasures of grace: all things are there.”
If we are to discover the depths of what Christ has placed within us when he formed us, diving into the depths of the heart is absolutely necessary. This series of teachings will delve into these depths and provide helpful insight on this journey of discovery.
What we mean when we use the term heart is notoriously difficult to define. The meaning of the word varies depending upon the context in which it is used. In the coming section we will look at what the Bible has to say, what our modern culture has to say, and then what Christian history has to say.
1.1 The Biblical Definition
1.2 The Christian Mystics
1.3 Living From the Heart
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