Guard your heart
Proverbs 4: 20-23 My son, attend to my words, incline thine ear to my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes, keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your hearts with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.
Pray
The message here is for the son to listen closely to the sayings of the words of God. Do not let them depart, but keep them in the midst of your heart. Keep the word of God as the focus of your life.
When we keep the word of God as our focus we can see things in a different light. If you will discipline yourself to the word of God, it will shed new perspectives on everything. It will expand your horizons in life as a whole.
The word of God shows how we are victorious, while the world makes you look defeated.
Concerning trials-James …trials of your faith works patience. tests=testimonies…struggles=ministries…everything that we go through has a reason. And the word tells us that there is a season for everything.
Concerning finances- The bible teaches us how to be good stewards over the finances that God has allowed us to have. He has given us the power to get wealth. The reason why we as Christians do not get over stressed, and anxious about money like people in the world do, is because we understand that God is the one who owns all of the silver and gold that is in the earth, and we are just stewards over the things for a short while.
The bible teaches that the love of money is the root of all evil. People will say that money is the root of all evil, but in fact the word says the love of money. When you have the word of God in your heart, and as the very focus of your life, you can understand that the very purpose of our lives is to worship God in everything that we do.
He gives you finances, to see if you will be faithful in worshipping him with the money, or if you will worship yourself with the money. It is all a test. the Word tells us that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
God told Joshua 1:9 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein, for then shall thy make thy way prosperous, for then shall you have good success.
Ps.1:1-5 and everything he does shall prosper.
Concerning death- The word of God also gives us a new outlook on death. Paul said for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain, I am in a straight betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better.
Grandpa said when he went into heart surgery, I’m a winner either way, and it is the word of God that gives him this confidence. This however is not the mind set of your everyday man. It is in fact completely contrary to the thinking of the world.
As hard as this may seem, the passing away of a loved one is actually a blessing. The bible says, “precious in the sight of the Lord, is the death of one of his saints. It is a coming home celebration. They now live in a place of no more tears, or sorrows, and are eagerly waiting our arrival. Like the song says you’ve never seen such shouting going on.
It is vitally important to our spiritual lives that we stay focused in and on the word of God, and the promises that are written therein. For when we stay focused on the word of God, we are constantly reminding ourselves of the love of God.
The bible says for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. This means if we are feeding ourselves a steady diet of the word, and it is sinking into our hearts, then that is what will come out in our conversations with the lost. We will not be able to speak negatively, because there will be nothing bad in us. It all comes from your heart.
For out of the heart come the issues of life. We must guard it with everything that we have in us. As a soldier stands at the gates of a base and is constantly protecting what lies inside, so must a man guard his heart.
Josh. 22:5 “Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”#
I Sam16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”#
I Chr 28:9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.#
Ps. 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.#
Pr.17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.#
Pr. 19:21 Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand.#
Matt. 5: 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’
Physically speaking, the heart is the most important bodily organ that we have. Without our heart, the bodies various organs, processes and functions would cease, and life would end.
With all that has been going on around here lately, I think that we know the importance of guarding your heart. The bible however talks about our spiritual heart.
I would like to show you a few parallels between the physical and spiritual heart.
The physical heart is located approximately in the center of a man’s body-the spiritual heart should be located in the very center of a Christians thoughts, words, actions, and ministry, motivating everything in his life.
Every physical heart is approximately the size of its owners clinched fist-Every Christians spiritual heart is only really as big as the works of his hands show it to be.
The blood in a physical heart is composed of different nutrients contained in the food consumed by its owner-The life in your spiritual heart is composed of what you consume through your mind experience, The best nutrition is obtained by eating the word of God.
The physical heart is more prone to some forms of heart disease and attack on a high fat diet, in an overweight body-The spiritual heart is more prone to spiritual sickness as the leader takes in the rich truths of the word of God, without practicing them, and making them an active part of his life, and the lives of others.
The physical heart will be more prone to disease, and attack the more tension and stress its owner experiences-the spiritual heart is more prone to spiritual sickness as you live a high adrenaline, high stress lifestyle, by not entrusting all cares into the lords hands.
Keep the words of God in the midst of your heart, for they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
