If Our Heart Condemn Us

So over the years my heart has condemned me constantly and I would run to this verse particularly and read 1 John 3:20 which says "For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things."  I had thought that this verse meant, my heart that condemns me as I read the Scripture much of the time and just in general, but God is greater than my feeble heart that condemned me, meaning my heart might do so, but God does not condemn me at all and if I am condemned that it doesn't matter because God can see that I am not condemned.  But the other day when one of my brothers mentioned this verse (not even explaining it at all, he just simply quoted the verse, I don't even remember what he was talking about) my eyes were opened as to what this verse really meant!  In the past I had never been able to justify myself with it if I were to read this verse in context with those verses around it, I had to take it as a separate verse out of context.  BECAUSE, if you read it in context it says as the whole...

"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."-1 John 3:18-24 

The understanding that I have received on this from the Lord as He has quickened it to my heart is this.  That if our heart condemns us, God who is even greater than our own heart that would seek to justify itself, knows all things, He knows our hearts so much better than we ever could know our heart.  So if we see condemnation how much more Him that sees all things sees our condemnation in full.  It follows by saying BELOVED, IF OUR HEART CONDEMN US NOT THEN WE HAVE CONFIDENCE TOWARD GOD.  If our heart is confirmed and we are washed and our conscience sprinkled and cleansed then our hearts will be assured before Him, they will not condemn us but we will have confidence because of His grace to come to Him.  If it were to mean that we might feel condemned but we are not (like I thought in the past) then beforehand it would not say if we are of the truth we shall assure our hearts before Him, (you cannot assure your heart before Him if you are condemned) as well as afterward saying if our hearts condemn us NOT then we have confidence toward God!  

If we are justified and saved and cleansed by Him then the Word will not condemn us, our hearts will not condemn us!  His Spirit will testify with ours that we are His, He will give us assurance rather than condemnation.  But if our heart condemns us, don't ignore this warning from the conscience the Lord has given you, be honest with God!  Maybe you have confessed Christ but don't hesitate to examine your heart.  If you feel condemned, this is judgment and your heart is telling you where you are really at with God.  No amount of men can uncondemn you, only God, though you can receive false assurance from men, a false peace, to let the condemnation subside for a while, but why stay where you are if this is true of you?  He has let you see this for a reason, tell Him!  Be honest with yourself, with God, don't let your pride convince you to remain as so.  Plead with Him for mercy!  Seek Him in humbleness of heart, seeking to be justified and assured before Him by the Blood of the Lamb, for justification, for mercy and grace, for assurance rather than condemnation!!  Ask Him to show you what following Christ really looks like in your heart and outside practically.  If your heart is burning reading this, take it to heart, don't take my word but bring it before Him.  Ask Him to reveal Himself to you, be honest with Him, ask Him to show you and reveal to you where your heart really is with Him.  He knows all things.  He is merciful and gracious, He dwells in heaven as well as with the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), with the contrite in spirit, if you come to Him He will in no wise cast you out (John 6)!  Seek Him, for Christ Jesus to give you true belief and true cleansing for your soul!  He desires for no one to perish but all to come to salvation.  He created you.  He knows you better than you could imagine knowing yourself.