Looking upon the Heart: Volume 1: The Five Dispositions

By Pete Carlson, MFT

BY LOOKING UPON THE HEART WE CAN ALL BE CHANGED IN AN INSTANT AND LIVE LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY! The mystery of the biblical heart is unveiled by integrating psychology and Scripture to delineate the five dispositions of the heart, the choice of which we morph into could either enhance or hinder the attainment of abundant life in Christ. Throughout time, people have been searching for the meaning of life and the way to find fulfillment. It is the intention of this book to show how, by Looking upon the Heart, where Jesus may live, we can actualize healing and holiness at any moment in time. In this in-depth, Christian psychology and self-help/textbook, the reader is enlightened as to what good and bad choices we can make about our character and personality; the goal is to consistently be transformed (morphed) out of the unhealthy dispositions of the heart (the broken heart and the hard heart) into healthier ones (the open heart, sweet heart, and the brave heart). Our first basic premise is that we all, believers and unbelievers alike, can and do spontaneously morph continually in and out of various dispositions, character states and personality styles, and so are capable of immediate transformation. The second premise is that grace must prevail; we all would be hypocrites if we judged, because we are all morphing, having our good moments and bad, at any particular moment in real time. Ultimately the overall perspective is that the heart should be the most important human entity known to man. The heart is the primary gatekeeper and decision-maker and, therefore, the overall determiner of the whole person's behavior, personal growth, and spiritual maturity. We are to embrace a complete understanding of the biblical heart, its five dispositions, in order to overcome psychological, behavioral and relational dysfunction and sin. Only then can we successfully and consistently experience oneness with God through Jesus, living and actively operating within our hearts. As a result of "Looking upon the Heart," the Lord reigns and leads us to a life of victory in Jesus.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 9, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098019211

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Looking upon the Heart

Volume 1:

The Five Dispositions

Pete Carlson, MFT 

Carlson Counseling and Psychotherapy

ISBN 978-1-0980-1920-4 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-0980-1921-1 (digital)

Copyright © 2020 by Pete Carlson, MFT

Carlson Counseling and Psychotherapy

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Looking upon the Heart

Volume 1:

The Five Dispositions of the Heart

Volume 2:

Introducing the Biblical Heart’s Relationship to the Frontal Lobes of the Brain

Volume 3:

Effective Relationships, Modern Evangelism, and the Dispositions of the Heart

Pete Carlson, MFT

Dedication

Idedicate this volume to Pop, my late step-father Joseph J. Bernett, who not only was the first to bless me by reading and approving of my manuscript, but who overall had a greater influence on me than any male figure in my life. And I dedicate this to my Mom as well who taught me by example how to have a loving heart.

Acknowledgments

While this book is a personal statement of my ideas based on 35 years of being a psychotherapist, I am so thankful and indebted to the help and support I have received from countless people in my personal and professional life. I acknowledge with great respect the thousands of great individuals, couples, families and classes I have had the honor to treat, teach and learn so much from in my private practice. I thank you brave souls who have ventured to open up and trust me, a virtual stranger, with deep, dark secrets and troubles. I consider myself to be just an ordinary fellow voyager through life, and yet you honor me with this faith you seem to put in me—thank you so much. I give you all credit and great thanks for jobs well done and how it has helped me understand how people can and do change spontaneously . I thank you all for helping me gain the insight into your hearts so as to write this book. In addition, I thank my fine artist friend Bruce Robinson for depicting the comical caricatures and personifications of the types of characters and personalities delineated in the book. I give my thanks also to graphic artist Sasha Chhuon for the fine figures found in the appendixes. I also greatly want to thank Christian Faith Publishing for their fine work and professional collaboration with me. I thank my only begotten son, Matthew Carlson for his consistently exemplary character, subtle hilarious personality and amazing musical talents which have helped me gain confidence in everything, just because of knowing I must have done somethings right in helping raise him. Lastly, I thank my beautiful wife, Terry Theadora Carlson, for her love, devotion and inspiration which she has consistently blessed me with. I thank Thea for being so tolerant of me spending long hours immersed in my writing and work. I especially want to thank her for keeping me on my toes, not settling for anything less in me than e xcellence and always morphing into dispositions of the heart which are of dignity, responsibility and grace.

Preface

For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

—1 Samuel 16:7

We need to see things as God sees them. Understanding the importance of the biblical HEART is vital to deeply understanding the content of human nature and the processes of transformation which God wants to take place in the character and personality of man.

The spiritual heart is the central focus of this book because of its profound significance—spiritually, psychologically, and biologically—operating in real time. We propose here that our hearts determine personal growth and what kind of character and personality each person is transformed into, as God would have it or not, depending upon the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, the dispositions of our hearts determine all the behavioral, relational, and evangelical paths we will take, God willing.

A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9).

Interestingly enough, although the word heart is used so very often in everyday life, so many of us don’t really understand what it actually is; especially that its primary purpose is to be the dwelling place for the Son of God, where He reveals His truth, faith and love in us by the Holy Spirit.

Looking upon the Heart is written to enlighten readers regarding the life-changing spiritual power and profound personal significance God intends the heart to take in our conception of it, regarding what it contains and how it functions in our everyday lives.

Though the term is mentioned very frequently, in ordinary conversations, writings and songs, as well as over eight hundred times in the King James Version of the Bible, the heart is not generally revered in society as the essential gatekeeper and executive decision-maker that it surely is.

At the mention of the word heart, what may immediately come to mind, for most people, are notions about romance, love, Valentine’s Day, emotional heartache, or something physical, having to do with feelings and sensations in the chest and abdominal area. But does anybody really know what the psychological, physical, and spiritual nature, and vital significance of the biblical heart really is? It is this author’s opinion that the heart has rarely, if ever, been clearly and adequately defined or celebrated as one of the most important functioning entities known to mankind.

The three volumes in Looking upon the Heart are intended to educate readers as to the deeper meaning and significance of this very commonly referred to entity. We are particularly dedicated to examining what we are classifying and defining as the dispositions of the heart of all people along with their component character states, also known as personality styles. These, we will explain, are having everything to do with our personal growth, spiritual maturity, interpersonal communications, and disciple-making (evangelism).

The broad view of the concept examined here will include (1) the biblical/spiritual, (2) the psychological/behavioral, and (3) the scientific/physiological meanings of the heart. The causes, contents, and functions of the dispositions of the heart will be thoroughly examined to bring understanding regarding all of these realms of humanity. A basic premise is that the whole person entails body, soul, and spirit, and that the heart (along with the mind), is a spiritual channel operating through all three of these realms. (See Appendix 1)

Volume 1 addresses both psychological and biblical concepts regarding the dispositions of the heart. The five dispositions of the heart—the broken heart, hard heart, open heart, sweet (servant) heart, and brave heart—are differentiated and defined utilizing hundreds of biblical scriptures. Included, and accumulated from four decades of my practicing psychotherapy, are ample examples of the dispositions of ordinary types of people, in contemporary society, with their compelling moods, attitudes, and behaviors.

Two basic areas of maturity in life, of practical value in understanding the dispositions of the heart, have to do with: How we mature personally and relationally.

Personally the purpose of understanding the dispositions of the heart is to enhance our understanding of ourselves and to teach us how to mature as human beings. To accomplish this, this book defines over fifty specific character states and personality styles, respectively comprising each of the five dispositions, and these are personified and amusingly named, accordingly (i.e., Fragile Freda, Hannibal Lecture, Humble Harvey, Teflon Tom, and Thoughtful Thelma). These kinds of personifications are presented in the book and made available like an array of clothing for us to choose between and to put on and in so doing, determine the kind of person we will be.

We need to learn how to overcome unhealthy patterns of being and functioning. We need to discover HOW God wants us to develop healthy personalities and character values so that He is sought out by us to guide us in paths of righteousness. All this can and will be accomplished if we look upon the heart and take responsibility for its safe keeping. Ultimately the heart is for letting go and letting God.

Relationally the purpose for understanding the dispositions is for us to establish effective relationships with God and with our fellow human beings. Undoubtedly this will benefit us such that we will get along, work well with others and, ultimately, become good disciple-makers.

Of primary importance, in the overall scope of these three volumes, is to understand effective evangelism, disciple-making, and leading people to Jesus Christ. This, we believe wholeheartedly, is facilitated through a better understanding of the biblical heart—of both our own heart and the heart of the potential disciple. The relationship of a disciple-maker to a disciple will be examined in volume 3, as well as the dynamics of relationships, in general.

The first basic premise of this book is that there is normally a moment-to-moment fluctuation between, and within, the five dispositions of the heart. The heart serves as both the gatekeeper and executive decision-maker regarding all human experiences. All changes in our hearts are described using the conception of heart morphology—a study of the instantaneous and continuous changes of our personality and character, in real time, which are determined by the content and processes of the heart.

The second basic premise in this book is that because we are all continually morphing, grace must prevail! This necessitates that our assessment of the human condition, spiritual maturity, and psychological stability must all be tempered with no judgmental or rigid diagnostic attitudes. We need to have grace because all of us, unbelievers and believers alike, change in our hearts, from healthy to unhealthy dispositions, moods and attitudes, throughout every day. But by the grace of God, the Holy Spirit will always direct our hearts in making choices aimed toward Most High character values if we are looking upon the heart where Jesus lives. Thus the major purpose of the book is to direct us to continually and carefully pay attention to the heart in order to follow the Lord and receive His grace.

Dispositions are exhibited in our lives as the personality characteristics, moral values, emotional mood swings, chosen attitudes, and behavioral reactions which we express and process our way through. Each transformation (morphing of the heart) has to do with what is going on both inside our heart (intrapersonally) and between us and others (interpersonally).

Foundational to this pursuit is the field of integration—the combining of psychology with biblical theology. This is the discipline being exercised to explain these dynamics and entities.

These dispositions of the heart can, and do, change throughout, and around, our various circumstances and difficult interpersonal situations we may find ourselves in. Dispositions of the heart may consistently change for the best and so gloriously manifest healthy dispositions of the heart; or they may change for the worse and, unfortunately, morph into unhealthy dispositions.

Generally speaking, healthy changes in the heart take place because of the Spirit of God! Therefore, it is hoped that by understanding the dispositions of the heart and appreciating how God works in us, in our heart, that then we each will learn how to develop, and outwardly manifest, a consistently healthy personality and character.

We will examine the evidence, in the Bible and biblically-consistent psychology, for defining the five dispositions of the heart. This will show us how we can best understand and enhance them in order to cope with the challenges of life and relationships especially with regard to our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

The existence, content, and functioning of these dispositions will be supported by biblical scriptures, psychological data, and scientific discoveries. These will be delineated by a plethora of observable, familiar personality patterns and behaviors; these we probably all recognize as familiar and know so well being the social and relational creatures that we are.

We will define each disposition of the heart in detail especially regarding what God has planned and purposed in His heart. This always has to do with performing His perfect will in accordance with the inerrant Holy Scriptures—the Bible.

Volume 2 addresses both the scientific and biblical descriptions of the heart. The frontal lobes, also called the frontal cortex, of the brain are hypothesized to be the same entity and mechanism as the biblical heart.

In this volume, biblical references to the concept of heart are cross-referenced with scientific research findings on the functioning and psychological processing in the frontal lobes of the brain. They are consistent. The heart, referred to in the Bible, does the same functioning as the area of the brain immediately behind the forehead according to Scriptures matched with research findings in neuroscience.

The centrality of the heart, in real time, is illustrated like this: all genetic predispositions, memories, and biochemical data inculcated within the deeper structures of the brain (the mind) are being uploaded into it while all coinciding social learning, sensory, and spiritual forces of warfare are being downloaded into the heart of man.

The conclusion reasonably reached by this author is that, the over-eight-hundred Bible Scripture references to the concept of the heart are in sync, and very consistent with what medical and psychobiological science have discovered about the functioning and psychological contents of the frontal cortex (frontal lobes) of the brain. The basic conclusion of volume 2 is: the biblical heart IS the frontal cortex and related structures of the brain.

Volume 3 addresses both evangelical and psychological concepts about relationships with people. It serves as practical guide to developing effective and quality relationships with other people, in general, and conflict resolution. There is a special emphasis on understanding of the dispositions of the heart to effectively minister in a quality relationship with people. This is accomplished by morphing into appropriate dispositions, character states, and personality styles of the heart to minister effective modern disciple-making and evangelism. Practical usage of the material in volume 1 and Looking upon the Heart: The Five Dispositions of the Heart will be demonstrated in volume 3.

Thus these three volumes will be an integration of psychology, spirituality (Christianity), and biology. We will be gathering wisdom and knowledge regarding these three realms of the trifold personhood of man: body, soul, and spirit and how they can interact with each other via the heart and the mind.*

The goal of this literary work is to help us obtain the most comprehensive and intelligent understanding of the biblical heart possible. Only then can we enhance the quality and meaning of human existence. This can only be accomplished, up to God’s standards, by emphasizing Looking upon the Heart and the workings of the Holy Spirit.

The spiritual implication is that science and psychology can be integrated with a biblically-based ministry of personal self-improvement, relational reconciliation, and effective modern evangelism.

The premise is that intelligent Christian people in this modern information age require more than common romantic and sentimental Hallmark-type conceptions of the heart. People also require more than a Christian Band-Aid on a gaping wound in their broken heart and more than a Christian Bible-banging of discipline on their hard heart (forehead). In order to be more efficiently reconciled to Christ, and others, in the modern era, people need a deeper understanding of the fullness of truth about their hearts.

It is theorized here that science, psychology, and the Bible can all be integrated together, researched, and effectively applied with majesty in our lives. Thus we seek to substantially contribute to a serious, rational, and practical understanding of the magnificent significance and benefit of Christ in us as we seriously go about looking upon the heart!

My Personal Vision

A Modern Conception of Personal Growth, Mature Relationships, and Evangelism Based on Looking upon the Heart

Ibelieve God has inspired me to express, in an in-depth way, what personal maturity is all about. The goal is ultimately to develop a consistently-fine personal character, effective relationships with God and people, and to discover what contemporary evangelism should be like. To do this, we must understand the heart’s very nature and how to approach things with grace and loving sensitivity. This is accomplished always through compassion by understanding and by deliberately ministering to the dispositions of people’s hearts.

What I believe the Lord has been trying to encourage me to do, throughout my lifelong study of the Bible, science, and psychology, is to combine them all together into an understandable whole. We are trying to make intellectual sense of the big picture. We need to discover how we can choose to allow God to change the dispositions of our hearts in order to grow in character, get along with others, get saved, and continue toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Of course, receiving Jesus as my Lord and Savior, as I did about fifty-four-plus years ago, started the whole process in motion. It was in Sunday school when I put a little cut-out picture of Jesus in a little cut-out heart, and I knew, without a doubt, He was in me. To me, after that, God has been putting his purposes together in my heart. Life-changing experiences, including studying the Word of God and going through school, several churches, college, graduate school, the School of Hard Knocks, and the blessings I now enjoy, have been recorded in my mind. My thinking and ideas are largely not things I learned particularly from any one person, or any academic book, as much as I learned it from God Himself from what he has revealed to me in the Bible, in my heart, and each event I have participated in. By the knowing of the Word and having living proof that God lives and reigns in my heart and mends it, I have been given great faith and a beautiful testimony with which to carry my cross. This book has been a lifelong labor of love.

What follows is a modern, intellectual approach to personal growth (sanctification) and, ultimately, to becoming equipped for winning over some people who have fallen into a broken-heart disposition and/or a hard-heart disposition so that they can more consistently morph into being healthy humans. Generally healthy-hearted people are those with an:

Open-heart disposition—Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and receiving and expressing all truth

Sweet-heart disposition—Being full of love in all our relationships

Brave-heart disposition—Being able to receive, confront, and assertively manage the ingredients of love, sin, good character values, salvation, sanctification, and disciple-making.

It is hoped that as everyone reads and ponders this information, we will be inspired to seek a deeper understanding of life and our relationship with Jesus, the Creator of the universe, the Holy Spirit, other people, and ourselves. The goal is to learn how we and others can consistently develop and maintain quality dispositions in our hearts and share the abundance therein. Let’s enjoy our journey and exploration into the heart of human existence.

Volume 1

Volume 1: Looking upon the Heart: The Five Dispositions

Chapter 1

Achieving Abundant Life through Understanding the Five Dispositions of the Heart

A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps

—Proverbs 16:9

Throughout time, people have been searching for the meaning of life and the way to find fulfillment . I for one have truly been seeking wisdom, knowledge, and understanding my whole life. From start toward the finish, it seems I have always literally pondered the heart and soul of human nature. I received Jesus into my heart at age eight and have been a dedicated therapist in private practice since 1985, attempting to comprehend and treat the heart and psyche of thousands of fascinating souls.

My interest in the heart all began one Sunday at Tenth Avenue Baptist Church during Sunday school. All I remember from that place was the teacher saying, Just cut out a little red heart and a little Jesus and then put Him into your heart. If you do that, He will live in you, forgive you for all your sins, help you, be with you always, talk with you, and give you eternal life. I distinctly remember thinking, That’s a good idea. I immediately was convinced of Jesus’s existence, how He literally had come into me, and what a good deal I had made!

Fast-forward nearly fifty years and I find myself walking on the beach, along the bottom of the stony cliffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Southern California, talking to God on a gorgeous sunny day. I had become a successful licensed marriage and family therapist and nightclub entertainer and frequently used these professional positions as an opportunity to try and make disciples with those who were appropriately receptive. Most of my patients were at least marginal believers in God and interested in getting healing for their heartaches and hard hearts. The customers in the restaurants and bars were also commonly open to God and otherwise seemingly curious about where the rather flashy trumpet player in the rock band was coming from and why he points upward during applause.

So as I reached the turning point in my beach walk, I lifted up my voice boldly to the Lord, But their hearts are so broken and hard, dear God, WHAT SHALL I SAY TO THEM? At that very moment, my footsteps came to a halt and I looked down on the smooth, glossy seashore with utter amazement. For right before my eyes (and my toes) was a rock shaped exactly like the biological human heart. I had learned what the human heart looked like, having earned a bachelor’s degree in psychobiology from UCLA; and the Lord knows I am a collector of rocks and shells, always looking down at water’s edge, so it was a natural thing for me to notice. As it turns out, it was a supernatural thing for me to notice!

I reached down, thinking how marvelous this is and thinking, What a coincidence and how wonderful this is to find a rock shaped like the human biological heart right when I was just talking to God about the spiritual heart. So there, right where I stood, among literally millions of other rocks, is one rock, looking just like a human biological heart which happens to be roughly crescent-shaped and fist-sized. I was further amused, upon inspection, when I noticed how hard it was and how broken it appeared with distinct cracks in it because I had just mentioned to the Lord how hard and broken people’s hearts were whom I attempted disciple-making with. But the ultimate joy was, not only this but that even more amazing than everything else, was the fact that when I looked upon the heart-shaped rock more closely, there was writing! There on its face, was inscribed, that which I believe to have been written miraculously by the finger of God, four distinct letters clearly carved in the rock. It spelled, I L i v (actually with an upside down V). Immediately I recognized it as God answering my question. I cried out in utter ecstasy and tears, ‘I LIVE,’ Lord?

And the prophetic voice of the Lord came into me in an instant, and He said, YES, TELL THEM I LIVE, AND I WANT TO LIVE IN THEIR HEART AND MEND IT.

I held up the rock in glee and said, Yes, Lord…and you gave me a tool? I realized the practical testimonial value of such a tool. Thus this sacred rock has become a cherished possession which I share everywhere I go if I feel led to give a testimony of what great things the Lord has done.

In addition to this, weeks later I found another rock in the same general location. I had been pondering, as I walked down to the beach again, what distinguished the heart from the mind. I chuckled as I halfheartedly expected to find another rock to give me the answer. Lo and behold, I found a rock that appeared to be looking like the cerebral cortex of the brain but with the forehead (forebrain) portion of the rock carved out. Once again, a prophetic word of knowledge came to me, saying, Look up the frontal lobes. It dawned on me that I had learned about this in undergraduate school, that this frontal cortex of the brain was involved in volition. Sure enough, upon inspection of the website on brain function, something dawned on me and confirmed it—the frontal lobes operated just like the biblical heart. This area was all about controlling things like what we pay attention to, what we do in deciding right and wrong behaviors, and what part of our personalities and emotions will be expressed at any particular moment in time. Then for the third time, the prophetic word from God came to me, saying, Write a small book on the heart! (Lord, forgive if my book is too long!)

And so, here we are. Now that you know where I am coming from, I will invite you to be a part of this wonderful journey into the deep recesses of the spiritual, biblical heart. From here on out, I will use the word we in our discussions, to be utilized throughout the text, except when speaking about the characters personified. This is because since you are now reading along with this, we are in this together as we go about Looking Upon the Heart. Please bear with this textbook if it may at first seem rather technical and difficult to fully comprehend, but we will find that, like in every challenge, the Lord will make it easier!**

Our Intention

It is the intention of this book to show how, by looking upon the heart, where Jesus lives, we can discover abundant life and lasting fulfillment.

By understanding all five dispositions, we will begin to diminish the two primarily-unhealthy and unrighteous dispositions—the broken heart and hard heart. At the same time, we will enhance the quality and sustenance of the three essentially-healthy dispositions—the open heart, sweet heart, and brave heart. By improving the dispositions of our heart, we will start to actualize an abundant life which God wants for us! Jesus said:

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:9–10)

The reason He is describing Himself as the door is because He is having everything to do with the entrance of our heart, the gateway to our soul. It is because He wants TO BE ONE with us, an integral part of us. So by Jesus living in us, by the Holy Spirit, we are one with God and live with Him in us. Jesus said:

I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)

We receive Jesus in our heart and through Him, we have abundant life with God the Father.

Jesus said to His Father that he desires:

That they may be one, as you Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us that the world may believe that you sent Me. And the glory which you gave Me, I have given them, that they may be one, just as We are one. I in them and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:21–23)

Our Purpose

Our purpose is to understand the biological, psychological, and spiritual (body, soul, and spirit) dynamics of this oneness and to comprehend God’s will for us so that we can partake in abundant life. In order to accomplish this, we must afford ourselves to receive Him into our heart as personal Savior and grow in maturity. Our purpose is to know we can achieve this beautiful metamorphosis*** of your own hearts and souls through a willingness to allow God’s Spirit to change the dispositions of our heart. This is what this book is all about.

Our Premise

Our premise is that only by the altering of the dispositions of the heart can patterns of functioning in characters and personalities be altered. Therefore, ultimately, the heart is the primary decision-maker and, therefore, determiner of the whole person’s personal growth and spiritual maturity.

The five dispositions—the broken heart, hard heart, open heart, sweet heart, and brave heart, determine our behavior and what kind of life we live. But being human, it is certain we will not always be in a healthy disposition. The fundamental problem is that we all have inherited a sin nature, and have all sinned, according to the Bible:

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

Falling short of perfection and falling into psychological dysfunction, sickness, and sin is usually the result of unhealthy dispositions—our broken heart and/or our hard-heart dispositions. Conversely healthy psychological, moral, and spiritual functioning comes through coming into healthy dispositions of our heart, namely the open heart, the sweet heart, and the brave heart.

Thus as we become willing to admit that we are all susceptible to fluctuations in and out of all five dispositions, then if we have faith in God, we can anticipate that He will perform His will in these dispositions.

For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

Our Difficult Task

The surrendering of our heart’s dispositions to Jesus will be the only way we will ultimately be truly healed in our spirit, brought out of our bondage to sin, and relieved of the mental illness in our souls.

It is suggested that as we go along, we should review the attributes of each of the dispositions and do something which is quite difficult. We should take note of at least one unhealthy disposition (broken or hard) that we know we sometimes morph into and don’t like about ourselves. We must be aware and admit to ourselves that we may not always be in the best disposition. We must admit it when we are feeling broken or being hard in our disposition. That way, we will not be fooling ourselves.

If we don’t recognize our broken or hard-heart dispositions, this is called being in denial which is lying to ourselves. Remember:

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us… If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8–10)

Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength whose heart departs from the Lord… The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick (wicked); who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:5, 9)

There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands, there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable. There is none who does good there is not even one. (Romans 3:10–12)

An Overview of the Five Dispositions of the Heart

To start the process of overcoming dysfunction and sin so as to successfully achieve abundant life, we must understand the five dispositions of the heart. They are summarized and defined here by explaining how they might come about and which psychological and behavioral aspects of them might be evident. In addition, each disposition is broken down into its component character states and personality styles. These are defined using the personifications named appropriately to delineate the type of each disposition we might morph into.

Broken Heart

The broken-heart disposition is morphed into because we have psychological dysfunction and sin, causing spiritual brokenness. We are broken off from a close relationship with the Lord. It is manifested when we operate out of emotional disturbance, distorted thinking, and, usually, psychological damage done to our soul (psyche****) from a history of particularly challenging, if not outright, traumatic events. For example, if we have horrible memories and emotional scars from child abuse and neglect, then we are predisposed and sensitive to feeling easily hurt, upset, sad, and fearful. These may result in us having psychological tendencies to protect ourselves defensively and to try and overcompensate for the inadequacy, discomfort, and vulnerability we feel. We might do this by developing a defensive or reactive personality. Generally the broken-heart disposition is self-defeating and prevents us from having dispositions with openness, sweetness, and courage.

It becomes very difficult to move past such hurtful things which have broken our hearts. We are deterred in our progress toward maturity and in attaining more healthy dispositions of the heart. If we have significant emotional pain, and distorted, negative thinking as a result of such damage, it becomes much more difficult to freely and fluidly morph into healthy dispositions. Just small samples of the innumerable psychological factors which are commonly found in each of the five dispositions and in all of our lives are listed in tables 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 below. Personifications are listed as well as characterizing certain character states and personality styles in tables 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, and 5a.

Table 1: Samples of Various Psychological Contributors to the Broken-Heart Disposition

Anxiety, depression, guilt, shame, addiction, phobias, panic attacks, horrible childhood memories of certain people, nightmares, disconnected relationships from a broken home, poor self-image, obsessive/compulsive behavior, making excuses, self-sabotaging, social introversion, avoidance, giving up easily, playing victim, self-pity, attention-getting behavior, emotionally fragile, takes things personally, trust issues, insecurities, horrible memories of past traumatic experiences, victim of domestic violence, cheating, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, and abandonment.

Table 1a: Personifications of Broken-Heart Character States and Personality Styles

Fragile Freda/Frodo—Easily emotionally hurt and made afraid, deep inferiority feelings, suffers silently, inwardly sad, overwhelmed by minor events

Drama Dora/Darren—Overreacts outwardly, does disruptive things to obtain negative attention, has meltdowns, creates drama, is inappropriate and irrational, and makes a big thing out of nothing

Foolish Frank/Francis—Thinks he’s right all the time when he’s not, lack of understanding, blindness to facts, rigid, narrow-minded, may lack gratitude, delusional, unrealistic, unbelief in Jesus

Anguished Agnes/Angus—She has sorrow and is grieved, she cares too much about what others think, say, and do until it hurts, always needy, frustrated, lonely, feeling abandoned and rejected, in inner turmoil

Doubting Doreen/Donny (and Paranoid Floyd)—Self-

doubt, doubts about others, uncertain, confused, doubts

that good things will happen, pessimistic, indecisive, says what if and second-guesses herself after the fact, no faith

Passive Peter/Petra—Non-assertive, procrastinates, avoids, doesn’t try hard, closed, lazy, timid, hesitant, socially and emotionally withdrawn

Denial Denny/Denise—blocks out reality which is too painful, blind to the truth, lies to himself without knowing it, fools himself, considered clueless

Look-at-me-Louie/Louise—Craves for any kind of attention, acknowledgement, and praise, shows off, a class clown, competitive to be noticed, secretly is deeply lonely and unfulfilled

Conflict Caveman/Cavewoman—Gives in when the going gets tough, makes excuses why he doesn’t follow through and step-up to the plate

Hard Heart

The hard-heart disposition is morphed into because we have become psychologically dysfunctional, sinful, and spiritually hardened. A blockage exists between us and the Lord. It has been manifested when we operate out of a character disturbance, defensive thinking, and stubbornness. There is a resistance and blockages in our ability and/or our willingness to stand corrected and receive help for our troubles. We refuse to try and understand the truth regarding our condition and, instead, choose to ignore godly wisdom and knowledge which would otherwise remedy our unhealthy disposition of the heart.

Table 2: Samples of Possible Psychological Components of the Hard-Heart Disposition

Defensiveness, closed-mindedness, violating people’s boundaries, sneakiness, having ulterior motives, playing head games, biases, prejudices, racism, anger, resentment, bitterness, rage, hatred, narcissism, self-centeredness, stubbornness, inflated ego, selfishness, rebelliousness, lust, sexual abuse, gender disturbances, homosexuality, transgender, molestation, perversion, pornography, prostitution, alcoholism, drug and substance abuse, domestic violence, dysfunctional childhood, divorce, unfaithfulness, argumentativeness, blaming, resistance to others, problems with authority figures, having to be in control, refusals to apologize, failure to admit problems, hidden inferiority feelings, bossiness, bullying, showing favoritism, abusiveness, abandonment, law breaking, stealing, taking advantage of others, patronizing, placating, manipulating others toward one’s own gain, stirring up trouble, gossiping, slandering, pretending we are someone we are not, lying, and apathy.

Table 2a: Personifications of the Hard Heart Disposition Character States and Personality Styles

Arrogant Arnold/Ari—Thinks he is above others in value and status

Selfish Sammy/Samantha—Only thinks about getting what he wants

Rebel Roy/Rosa—Goes against the rules and refuses to be controlled

Manipulative Manny/Maddie—Finds ways to scheme, scam and persuade others to think the way he thinks and act the way he wants them to, indirectly controlling, plotting against perceived enemies

Resistant Robot and Stubborn Stella—Intentionally resists cooperating and going along with the program, people, boundaries, and morals

Envious Eva/Evan—Is wanting what she can’t have and which somebody else has got

Judgmental Jerry, Critical Christine, and Hector Projector—Points the finger at others to make themselves feel better

Vengeful Victor/Vickie—Has to get even, take revenge and gives people some of their own medicine

Hannibal Lecture and Pushy Patty—Have to tell other people what to do, how to live their lives, and teach them a severe lesson, blatantly controlling, talk too much and don’t listen or learn enough

Open Heart

The open-heart disposition is morphed into when we avail ourselves to the truth and we open ourselves to change. We are open to seek out the possibility of healthy psychological and spiritual functioning and allow it to occur. We then operate with a willingness to learn and try new things. There is receptivity to new information and to allow even one new thought thus opening the door to the beginnings of spiritual and psychological transformations. The truth is comprehended, manifested, and expressed through the heart because the brokenness and hardness is gone!

Table 3: Samples of Psychological Components of the Open-Heart Disposition

Vulnerable, humble, teachable, impressionable and suggestible, good listener, nondefensive, cooperative, transparent, admitting faults, apologetic, respectful, accommodating, considerate, trusting, gullible, easily deceived, easily manipulated, naive, passive, history of trusting people, good-quality parenting, good education

Table 3a: Personifications of the Open-Heart Character States and Personality Styles

Ripened Ralph/Rhoda—Is open and ready to dedicate or rededicate his life to Christ, ready to learn new things he was previously not yet ready to understand

Humble Harvey/Honey—Opens his awareness to his own limitations, expects he should receive other people and their viewpoints, feelings, and needs, without obligation he freely serves others, makes himself an open book, a willing participant in whatever is good to be open to acquiesce to

Discovery Dana—Opens herself to seek, find, and accept all truth as God’s truth

Visionary Vivian/Vinnie—Opens herself to prophetic and meaningful glimpses of the future goals and plans God has for her, plans let the Lord direct her way

Prayerful Perry/Princess—Open to talk and listen to the Lord without ceasing

Appropriate April/Abel—Always open to accommodate and express herself consistently, always gracious and sensitive to the situation she finds herself in, speaking and behaving with class and respect

Fellowshipping Fredrick/Fran—Open to being with people who love the Lord Jesus Christ; wherever he goes, he never forsakes to gather together in the Lord’s name

Moldable Morph-able Mike/Mia—Is open and adaptable to all new information, people, and experiences he comes upon, has cast down all strongholds of thinking and is completely allowing himself to morph into healthy dispositions and personality styles

Sweet Heart

The sweet-heart disposition is morphed into because we manifest loving behavior, a beautification of relationships, and appropriate functioning that demonstrates the application of practical spirituality. There is a practicing of kindness and caring which magnifies LOVE flowing in and out of and between persons. When morphed into a sweet-hearted person, we are arguably an individual who should be universally revered as constituting a truly beautiful person (no brag, just fact!). The true sweet-heart disposition must be based on sincerity and a pure, loving motivation, otherwise it may be an impostor and only seem like a sweet-heart disposition.

Table 4: Sample Psychological Impressions of the Sweet Heart:

Sweet thoughts, gestures, and words, prayers for others, praying with others, kindness, caring, sharing, helpfulness, empathy, compassion, generosity, thoughtfulness, sensitivity to emotional situations, sentimental, nostalgic, cute, volunteering, romantic, chivalrous, gentlemanly, lady-like, politeness, etiquette, social correctness, self-sacrificing, putting the other person as more significant than yourself and giving gifts, a childhood with affection, ample attention, and frequent hearing of I love you.

Table 4a: Personifications of the Sweet-Heart Character States and Personality Styles

Teflon Tom/Tara—Is sweet by not letting sinful or dysfunctional people, places, or things stick to him or cause him to get upset with little things and to consequently be held back from the purpose that God has set before him

Unconditional Uncle/Auntie—Is sweet in forgiving everyone quickly and in accepting everyone with grace and unearned favor

Thoughtful Thelma/Theo—Is a sweet, softhearted, and sensitive person about others’ hurts, special needs, disabilities, troublesome situations, negative feelings, special occasions, and whatever they might need regarding prayer, assistance, or things.

Comforting Counselor—Gives good supportive feedback, guidance, and advice, has the sweet therapeutic touch which beautifies all the persons she gently ministers to, builds up others with encouragement and praise

Submissive Sonny—Has the sweet spirit of being able to yield, obey, and submit herself and present her wishes to others

Honor Conner/Connie—Has the sweet respect people expect from a true gentleman, a reverent Christian, and honorable member of a family, relationship, or group

Listening Linda/Lenny—Has the sweet ability to hear, empathize with, and listen to his heart and others’ hearts, able to validate and bless those who need to be heard

Transparent Tristan/Trent—She is a sweet trusting soul who lets what is on the inside, shine forth on the outside and is completely genuine.

Generous Genie—Is a sweet giver of herself, her property, and money, is charitable and gives of herself, her skills, and her time generously

Sober Sailor Celebrator—Is a sweet example of a joyous person who doesn’t need to get high or drunk to have a good time, and an example of a fun-loving Christian

Romantic Roman—A sweet gentleman who knows how to do the unexpected thing, at the unexpected time and in the unexpected way, for a lady in order to make her feel very special, safe, and secure

Romance Ramona—A sweet lady who receives a man’s romantic words, gestures, and created atmospheres with respect and a desire to admire him with her own courtship and wooing behaviors

Brave Heart

The brave-heart disposition is obviously morphed into when we are in-filled with the Holy Spirit. We manifest psychological wisdom, social maturity, courageous behaviors, and effective living out of abundant life. There is an authentic demonstration in daily living of a genuine personal relationship with Jesus, and an anointing of the Holy Spirit, resulting from a perfect spiritual alignment with God. We are, at that moment, ONE with the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The brave-heart disposition constitutes our confidence, gifting, and power resulting from ONENESS WITH GOD. This blessing occurs when we have deliberately chosen to have the frontal lobes of our brain (the heart) focused on Almighty God. As a brave-hearted person, we choose to concentrate on the truth in the Word of God and to have total humility. When we surrender completely to the Creator of the universe, the brave heart disposition kicks in.

Table 5: Sample Psychological Components of the Brave Heart

Worshipping Christ in Spirit and in truth, courage, bravery, heroic but expecting no praise, humble regard for all our shortcomings, weaknesses and sins, utilizing wisdom, knowledge and understanding, demonstrating the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit, exercising strength, power and confidence, manifesting amazing grace and evangelistic abilities, motivated, ambitious, endurance, patience, perseverance, frequent task completion, good works, honesty to all, consistency, compelled to be obedient, reveres the commandments of God, bravely meets the challenges of changing, growing and living for God, using spiritual power God has given, taking full advantage of the Holy Spirit moving through us!

The brave heart is made possible because we are born again, surrendered to Jesus, equipped with the full armor of God, and prepared to bring healing, help, and spiritual renewal to one’s self and others.

Table 5a: Personifications of the Brave-Heart Character States and Personality Styles

Humble Hero—A brave rescuer who faces danger or ridicule and will go out his way to save those in distress and needing direction yet he is expecting nothing in return, not even credit or thanks for doing it.

Confessing Casey—A brave, expressive person who is completely clear to God and to others about her shortcomings, failures, and sins, gives her personal history and testimony freely, offers a workable compromise and expressing a desire to enter into agreements

Secret Seeker a.k.a. Oscar Asker—A brave asker of the tough, sensitive questions in order to get to the truth of the matter and seek solutions regardless of the repercussions. For example: have you received Jesus as your personal Savior?

Steadfast Stan/Stacey—A brave rock of ages who never wavers in anything having to do with his faith, morals, commitment, loyalty, and purpose which the Lord has given him with much perseverance, endurance, consistency, and persistence.

Confident Christian—A brave, unashamed role model of Christ-esteem, positive self-image, faith in the Lord giving him strength and accentuating his abilities

Edifying Educator—A brave teacher of the Word of God whose sole purpose is to build others up in their understanding, character, faith, and love

Revelation Riley—A brave receiver and conveyer of profound words of wisdom, words of knowledge, prophesies, and spontaneous insights revealed to him

Normalizing Norm/Norma—A brave, calm, rational believer understanding that hardly anything is worth getting overly upset over because it is a natural and an expected occurrence in these perilous and dysfunctional end-times

Suffering Servant—a brave slave to righteousness, always willing to take one for the master and turn the other cheek.

Obey Ever-day—A brave follower of Jesus Christ who is willing to do as the Scripture says without grumbling or hesitation including abiding by governing authorities on earth and his wife (or her husband).

Diligent Defender—A brave defender of the Word of God, the faith, and Jesus Himself as well as all that is righteous, decent, good behavior, and moral attitudes, practices apologetics.

Anointed Annie/Andy—A brave exhibitor of the baptism of the Holy Spirit within her including all the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit

Scriptural Categories for Each of the Five Dispositions of the Heart

The Scriptures refer to the heart or hearts around 876 hundred times in the King James Bible and at least about 600 times, depending on any other translation of the Bible we may read. To start out with, table 6 lists many of the usages of heart found in Scripture in a variety of biblical contexts. These references are associated with the word heart or hearts or related terms combined with other words or phrases such as brokenhearted, do not harden your heart, and take courage, my heart. This table will help us better understand the biblical usages of the concept as they relate to the content and functioning of the five different dispositions of the heart. In the table, these have been divided into five categories corresponding to five quite distinctive, yet interacting, dispositions of the biblical human heart.

We need to know more about what is meant by this word, heart; we are about to find out.

Table 6: Scriptural Descriptions and Usages of the Five Dispositions of the Heart

Chapter 2

How We Grew Up Looking Upon the Heart

Common Nonspiritual Understandings of the Concept of Heart

The concept and word heart is a mysterious entity. We each will undoubtedly think of its meaning in terms of how we grew up conceiving of it. Unless we grew up Christian, what comes to mind, instead of a spiritual conduit through which the Spirit of God is intended to flow, we probably will think of it as either