The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD: He turns it wherever He will.-Proverbs 21:1

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?-Jeremiah 17:9

Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel and he said to them: “Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe—all the words of this law.  For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess.” Deuteronomy 32:45-47

The Bible often speaks of the heart. We often wonder why the leaders of our land lead as they do. And then again we know something of the answer. God is a heart turner. And hearts are turned to God or away from Him. It is as simple as that--one of two directions.

We may wonder why we are given wicked leaders.. But we do know that often we get the leaders we deserve. We are a nation that has left God and gone our own ways. And the consequences are growing.

We live in a divided nation in desperate need of the gospel. Some time ago Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) wrote "This present age is so flippant that if a man loves the Saviour he's a fanatic and if he hates the powers of evil he's a bigot". If this was true in Spurgeon's day how much more so in our own!!

God is not a quiet bystander. Verse 2 of Proverbs 21--Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart. Yes the LORD weighs all of our hearts. For that reason (and many more) let us remember the importance of the heart; let us seek the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in order that we keep on keeping on in the gospel way. We too must give an answer to the LORD. Let us not lose heart but press forward while the LORD gives us opportunity.

Be encouraged to keep your eyes heavenward and trust God to also lead us in our particular callings. He asks of us faithful obedience and to leave the outcome with Him. Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!I Chronicles 16:10

Wishing you grace and peace in the Saviour's provision. Sincerely, Rev. P.J. Vellenga