The Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans, the tenth chapter, verses eight through ten, says, "It is with the heart that man believes." The heart is mentioned 860 times in the Old Testament and numerous times in the New Testament. The heart, biblically speaking, is the innermost part of human nature; the seat of thoughts, intentions, emotions and morals. The focus of God's transforming work by His Word and by His Spirit. The heart is also the dwelling place of the human spirit, and for Christians, the Holy Spirit. The Lord, in Deuteronomy 5:29, says, "O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!"

Within the heart are deposits of the mind, will and emotions: memories, thoughts, decisions, feelings and beliefs; accumulations of personal interpretations of each individual's life experiences, written and spoken subject matter and relationships. The heart, both physically and emotionally, can be broken and wounded by the significant people in our lives. Our response to hurtful experiences can, and will, influence how we live, communicate and relate to our world and the people around us, even if we do not consciously remember them. Think about it.