The great battle raging in heaven and earth concerns the hearts and minds of men. That the world should fight for man’s heart is no wonder. Everything in the world has no greater aim than to possess the hearts and minds of men. But here lies the danger, for the world and everything in it lies under the curse of God. So there is no greater evil we can do to our souls than to give our hearts and mind to this world and the things of this world. But that the holy God should also plead for the hearts and minds of men is a wonder indeed.

God says to man, ‘My son, give me your heart’ (Prov. 23:26). God will not accept anything from us unless it is given from the depths of our hearts. The most costly sacrifice will not be accepted unless it is given from the heart. All the purposes of God’s grace, all the counsels of his will, are centred on one purpose and that is to bring back the hearts and minds of men to himself. He wants nothing else but that man should love him with all his heart and soul and mind and strength (Deut. 10:12). God has also revealed what he intends to do in order to bring back man’s heart and mind to himself. He will circumcise man’s heart so that man may once again love the Lord his God with all his heart and with all his soul, in order that he may live and not die (Deut. 30:6).

On the other hand, the world with painted face, seductive promises and glorious robes, and assisted by Satan, also seeks to draw and hold the hearts and minds of men. And if man prefers the world before God, he shall justly perish along with the world, and be rejected by the one whom he has rejected (Prov. 1:24-31).

Are you constantly warring against the world, both from without but also from within? Do you often find yourself not knowing the "narrow path" to take? With so many voices saying, 'Go this way!" or "Go that way!", are you confused and frustrated by the conflicting directions that come to your hearing? Well, this article by the famous Puritan John Owen will surely be a balm to soothe your soul. Owen cuts a straight furrow for you to follow bringing Scripture to your mind and heart to provide excellent guidance in this difficult and often perplexing issue.

You can jump to this article here: How God Calls Our Hearts From the World

In His service and grace,