The human heart

"... Never again will I curse the ground because of human beings, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood.  And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done."
Genesis 8:21


"...every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood." - now I understand some of my child's tantrums - he's just using his heart!


On a more serious note, this really does strike a chord with me.  I know that we're born sinners and I know that I am constantly battling my own nature, but this hit me in a new way today.  I know I'm not alone.  
"Every inclination..." - not one thing I do on my own is pure and good.  Those things only come from Christ.  
"...of the human heart..." - all people, not just some.  
"...is evil from childhood." - we started out that way.  All of our evil tendencies as humans start from childhood. We're all born with them, we grow up with them, and we have them into adulthood. 


And not only are we battling ours own evil nature, but we're also battling the Great Deceiver. 


The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the Lord, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."
Job 1:7


I'm so thankful to have God's Word that tells me how to deal with all the evil surrounding me. Ephesians 6 reads:


¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 ¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.