8. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. Your thoughtspositive, negative, good, or badcontrol your attitudes. Go to God first for guidance. Proverbs 4:23, I listened to a Christian counselor recently discuss this verse. You should always notice when youre peaceful or joyful and when you are not. Knowing your value will help you to live a happy and peaceful life. Kelli Mahoney is a Christian youth worker and writer. Think of the guardrails we see along highways; they keep us from running off the road and careening down a steep cliff. Its not us, but the Lord who transforms our lives that have been broken by the heart. (Colossians 4:6), I guard what I say and keep myself from trouble. Sow a deed, reap a habit. Setting your mind on heavenly things will help you know how to protect your heart against fear, sinful thoughts, and immorality. Thanks so much for reading and for sharing! When we set personal boundaries, its similar to new lanes being painted on an interstate. She previously worked as an administrator for NXT, a high school Christian youth group. Mahoney, Kelli. We need people. We live in a culture that is so fast paced, chances are you might have spent about 30 seconds on this page, and then youll be off to the next one. Our first instinct might be to put walls up around our heart to protect it. I know He takes care of me. The fragility of our heart should not be taken lightly. Thats what God intends. B.S., Psychology and Criminal Justice, Illinois State University. 1. Currently having teenagers in the home and wanting them to chose a movie to watch , wisely . What sins or bad habits in my life are weighing me down from a higher moral conduct? 5 practical ways you can guard your heart - Christian Today Bible Verses About Guarding Your Heart - CHURCHGISTS.COM He says to guard your heart diligently. Chances are, thats the thing God is calling you to do. Proverbs 27:19 As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. The lanes have been re-painted in this stretch of highway and careful attention is necessary to navigate the changes. The thought life controls you. Who are you allowing to influence you? Your attitudes lead to your actions. 2 Corinthians 10:5. I dont think so. All rights reserved. Sow a character, reap a destiny.. Psalm 119:9-11 ESV, A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. It is not what enters the mouth that defiles us, but what comes from your mouth. Im so thankful he did because its my favorite place to find solace in Gods Word. We guard our hearts because we want to reflect the character and goodness of God. He knew that his heart was downcast and changed it by putting his hope in God. So lets look at what it means to guard your heart. David poured out his heart when he wrote about God. The Bible tells us to guard our hearts because not doing so can cause great difficulties for us. You see, a lot of times when bad things happen, we tend to blame God. We are also telling God we dont trust Him in the process. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. The Lord Jesus Christ wants us to present our bodies to Him, including our minds, that He might transform us. When we spread ourselves to thinly, our energy and contributions are diminished. The pressures of life can be overwhelming, yet we need to rise above them every single day. How To Guard Your Heart Spiritually The bible tells us that, "The heart is deceitful above all things" (Jeremiah 17:9) and, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." (Matthew 15:19). What Is the Abomination of Desolation Mentioned in Bible Prophecy? As you persevere, you will continue to grow in Godliness and your heart will be strong. We are admitting we cant do life on our own. While we run around like crazy, we often forget this is bad for our hearts. He is the watchman that protects our souls. We are forgiven for all of eternity. We are to guard our heart because it is the vital organ of the soul. So much so that it has been reported that the average human now has an attention span of 8 seconds (thats less than a goldfish). Help me to depart from evil, do good, seek peace and pursue it. Most of us have if we are to be completely honest. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. To a Hebrew, the heart is the center of everything, including understanding and wisdom. You will meet people that will make you feel worthless, and this will leave you heartbroken. Any day of the year, we're here for you! Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life Proverbs 4:23 (NLT). There is the promise of love, the pain of loss, the joy of redemption.-BBC Sherlock, Its that time of year again when there are red and pink hearts in all forms in every retail shop you go to. People and situations will bring you down. Then. Yes, we love and serve one another, but not to the extent of compromising the priorities and values the Lord has given us. What you think is what you are. In the case of our text, be present with jesus, be present in the spirit, be aware of God's move in your life, be aware of . Your attitudes are the sum total of your thoughts. It means that our actions, attitudes, and words are a true reflection of our hearts. (Psalm 101:3), No matter what people around me say, no matter what the doctor says, I know that I know that I know that I am healed by the blood of Jesus! She has a Master of Arts in Publishing Studies from the University of Stirling, UK, where she studied and lived for a year in Scotland. 5 Ways to Guard Your Heart and Mind By Sunshyne | June 8, 2022 | 19 One of my favorite ways to study the Bible is doing a word study. 8 Surprising Things about You That Are Attractive to Your California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Thanks so much for reading! :). Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. If I speak in the tonguesof men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. Its dangerous driving through the construction zone due to the improvements in progress. Its another way of saying, Just load up on My Word. God, our family (spouse, children, etc. We are told to guard our hearts with all diligence but what does above all else guard your heart mean? God is still speaking. Its much too easy for us to negate what we say by pretending its a joke or telling the other person we didnt mean it. 2. ), work, and so on is an example of an order of priorities to keep throughout the day. Molly Law C.com Editor Jan 24, 2020 Protecting your heart is not as easy as it sounds. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Romans 1:25. Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Jesus knows what is best for you, rest in him instead of trying to do things all by yourself, and he will lead you in the right direction. He says to guard your heart diligently. Introduction "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" ( Proverbs 4:23, NIV). Thank you for this! GUARD YOUR HEART PROVERBS 4:23-27 By Dr. Gary G. Dull When we are adopted as sons and daughters of the one true King, we come into a family and are sent on mission. Your attitudes lead to your actions. We should not let unwholesome talk come out of our mouths. Instead of hanging out in places where you will be tempted to sin against God, for example, a bar or being around gossipers, choose to be around God-fearing people. How Can I Guard My Heart? - Christianity But Matthew 6:33 reminds us to seek first the kingdom of God. Think about this for a moment. Your heart needspeople constantly pouring into you, and youneed to be pouring into people. By guarding it according to your word. Now, there are people in our lives that we cannot avoid like our parents, spouses, and siblings. God has called us to love each other as ourselves (Matthew 22:39), but what happens when fellow brothers and sisters break our hearts or when the church breaks our hearts? From your thought life and through your thought life God wants to minister to you. His care about the condition of our hearts is preeminent in both Old and New Testaments. What behaviors or habits do I know to be right, and yet avoid or ignore? God might be the last thing on our list (we may not say that, but the way we live declares that), or we might elevate our kids to god status.. All Rights Reserved. To know what is happening in your heart, you need to keep watch of your feelings, words, and attitudes. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life Proverbs 4:23 (NLT). Get My Word into your heart.. These are just a few but we can see from. But thats fantasy and not realistic. The answer to that is that I don't believe we can truly be grateful when so many hearts are walking around in apathy, brokeness, pride un forgiveness, hurting and maybe full of resentment, bitterness, selfishness or maybe even revenge. Your heart's condition depends on the things you allow into your heart. I had sent in a prayer request for him regarding, Call us at 1-817-852-6000 or click here to send a prayer request online. Romans 12:2 ESV, Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Here are 5 practical ways to guard your heart: 1. Proverbs 27:19 tells us that the way water reflects the face that is how our lives reflect our hearts. How Do You Guard Your Heart? | Open the Bible After all, we live in a world where we are constantly bombarded by images, sounds, and smells. Proverbs 4:23 says, Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. We are told to guard our hearts, but what exactly are we guarding it from? Not everything that looks great in this life is from God. Jesus has done everything for us. A proverb by definition is a statement that reflects a general truth or piece of advice. Building walls will not protect us. But our spiritual enemy, Satan, aims for our spiritual core - our soul. To know how to protect your heart, you need to be aware of what is happening in your heart. Ive noticed that as well for menot because its about getting up early in the morning, but more of if I dont start out with time with the Lord, the day just attacks me with whatever is most important vs me attacking the day telling it whats most important. So, how can you guard your heart against the barrage of fear and negativity? Why? He was referring to your inner, spiritual person. People need to hear about Jesus and youneed to grow in the Lord with yourfamily that youll be with for all eternity. Guard your heart by Resting in Jesus. (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24), I am not under the curse of sickness. Productivity is elevated above all else and people are praised for getting things done. As youstart your daywith this truthful reminder, youllhave no choice but to glorify God in everything youdo because youllfind it so ridiculous that youget to do anything at all! 11. 1. She poured her heart to God so much so that Eli, the priest thought that she was drunk. But its not protecting the way God intends. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Remember to know your real value, focus on what is ahead, think before you take any steps, and to trust God with all your heart. 5 Ways To Guard Your Heart - Small Group International Most of all, guard your heart by resting in the finished work of Jesus. We are so easily led by our hearts its wants and desires that it can become an idol if we decide to follow it above the Lord. Its a requirement if you want to write such a book. We do this through biblical teachings, devotionals, encouraging posts, and anything relevant to Christianity. The mind of a man reflects who he really is, not simply his actions or words. Your attitudes are the sum total of your thoughts. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. The longer you quench that desire, the more strain you are putting on your heart. We need to use wisdom in what we allow into our hearts. Melinda Eye Cooper grew up in the Missouri Ozarks but lives near Nashville, Tennessee. We must watch and guard our hearts like the secret service watches the president or like the military watches our borders. In laymans terms, there are four main things you can do to guard your heart. Jesus said, Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). When we look primarily at our own wants and needs, we expose our heart and leave it defenceless. It can be confusing for drivers who are unfamiliar with the area. There are many descriptive words for heart issues in Psalms: contrite, proud, anguished, cunning, callused, grieved, blameless, disloyal, and unfaithful. Read the full affiliate policy. As a woman of faith, drawing upon God's peace in times of chaos or stress can protect your inner peace and mental clarity. Thanks Sean! What Does the Heart Represent Spiritually? Be careful what comes into your mind. Here are two good reasons to guard your heart. This is one of those posts that we all could profitably read everyday. Now the devil is very cunning. ", How can a young person stay on the path of purity? What Does it Mean to Guard Your Heart? (Matthew 11:30). What does God say about guarding your heart? We may wonder how we can guard it. Of course Donald, thanks so much for reading and for sharing! Guarding your heart means becoming wiser in our lives, not being isolated and unhurt. The Bible tells us to guard our hearts because not doing so can cause great difficulties for us. If we allow all the unkind forces in the world to pull us away from God, our heart becomes unhealthy. Even if the enemy comes like a flood to confuse you, you will not fall for his schemes because your focus will be on what is ahead. Sow a habit, reap a character. Follow it (Isaiah 30:21 GNT). 24 Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Paul encouraged the believers in Rome to be transformed by the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:2) because even then it was evident that a lot of the battle that Satan wages against Gods people takes place in our heads. What enters your soul will affect you positively or negatively. If it is against His Word, I dont let it into my life. Because the devil is diligent with his junk. So we are essentially asking God to transform us in one area when we pray, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me Grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." (Psalm 51:10, 12) Yeah, there is no particular virtue in the time of day. (Proverbs 4:25). Someone once said, Sow a thought, reap a deed. 8:11 The moral heart is madness - Ecc. We dont want to let our guard down though. It comes from knowing God and knowing your own heart what will and will not break it so easily. Follow your heart as the old adage goes, but the heart can be an unreliable source unless what we have allowed in is "true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy" (Philippians 4:8).
Baruch Transfer Credits, Overnight Camp Missouri, Gainesville, Ga School District, South Portland Maine Restaurants, What Are 3 Side Effects Of Lactulose, Articles H