Rev. Michele Owes and Rev. Diana P. Cherry

Introduction

Welcome back to The Teachable Woman Podcast with Reverend Michele Owes and Reverend Diana P. Cherry—your faithful “Teachers of Good Things.” In this episode, our hosts dive deep into the spiritual condition of the heart. Building upon prior conversations about sin and righteousness, this episode calls us to examine what truly resides in our innermost being. Get ready for a rich conversation filled with biblical insight, transparency, and wisdom that speaks to both the head and the heart.

From Sin to Righteousness

Rev. Michele reminds listeners of the journey from studying sin to embracing righteousness—defined not by our own opinions or feelings, but by our alignment with God’s word and His ways.

God Wants the Heart, Not Just the Mind

The conversation emphasizes that our relationship with God begins in the heart. While we often offer God our intellect, He desires a deeper connection—a surrendered, unguarded heart.

Scriptural Foundations on the Heart

Several scriptures are shared, including Proverbs 3 and 4, and Deuteronomy 6, highlighting that the heart is where God’s commandments should be stored. These verses underline that the heart directs our life’s outcomes.

The Heart as the Core of Spiritual Life

Rev. Diana shares a teaching from 1992, explaining the Greek word cardia—the seat of thoughts, feelings, and spiritual life. She explains how, before salvation, the heart was the headquarters of sin, and after salvation, it becomes the home of righteousness and truth.

Cluttered, Hardened, and Bitter Hearts

Rev. Michele likens an unchecked heart to a hoarder's storage room—full of unforgiveness, hurt, and bitterness. She warns that over time, hearts can become hardened fortresses, resistant to both giving and receiving love—even from God.

Rot on the Inside—The Apple Analogy

Rev. Diana uses a powerful analogy of a beautiful apple that’s rotten inside to explain how defilement begins in the heart before it manifests externally. She cautions listeners not to let internal rot fester to the point of visible spiritual decay.

Thoughts Are Devices—Guard Your Mind

Quoting her late husband, Rev. Diana stresses that “a thought is a device designed to manipulate your intellect.” Listeners are reminded to guard their thoughts, as they originate from the heart and can either align with God's will or pull us away from it.

• Proverbs 3:1
• Proverbs 4:23
• Deuteronomy 6:5
• Jeremiah 17:9
• Psalm 51:10

This heartfelt episode calls us to do deep spiritual maintenance. Rev. Michele and Rev. Diana challenge us to not just look good on the outside, but to cleanse and care for the inner life where God does His greatest work. With wisdom, humor, and grace, the Teachers of Good Things remind us that a clean heart and right spirit are essential to a thriving relationship with God—and we must be intentional to guard, examine, and purify our hearts regularly.

Assignment Reminder:

Think about what you're thinking about. Examine your thoughts—because they reflect what's in your heart.