Above All Else Guard Your Heart [This is Important!]
As we begin to come out of a global quarantine, it's time we check the condition of the most important thing... Our hearts. Now is the most important time to begin reflecting on the full health of our hearts. Reflection both emotional and physical health is important. Above all else guard your heart during this new beginning for the world!When you think of the human body, what are our two organs that are the most heavily guarded by our skeletal and muscular structures? The brain and the heart! If there is any injury to one or the other, the body no longer functions properly. The two are connected as one. When our brain signals distress, it signals to the heart to pump faster. If the heart experiences anything emotionally draining, it signals to the brain to release certain chemicals.Is this not how our spiritual mind and heart operates? Think of our minds as logic, wisdom, understanding. The way we think, our thought process. Our mind is a copy machine of our spirit and our heart is our emotional side. The Bible tells us to guard our hearts in Proverbs 4:23;
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
Our Hearts and Minds
What we do in our heart eventually convinces our mind to follow and our body there after. If we are not careful we will allow even the smallest bit of unhealthiness (i.e ungodly relationship, bad habits, etc..) to build up like plaque. This plaque will eventually cut off the flow of blood and will injure us terribly. Listed below are 4 simple steps to help you continue to guard your heart:
- Filter all things through your “God filter” - We have so many distractions these days and it is easy to be consumed by money, sex, fame, etc. Continuously filtering your thought process (remember what happens in your heart comes into fruition in your mind, then body) will enable you to train your heart and mind to process through "God's filter".
- Heart Checks - Like we do for our physical heart, we can do a checkup for our spiritual heart. A heart check is simple, but it requires time and desire on your part. On a frequent basis, get alone with God and ask yourself questions regarding the condition of your heart. We can do this with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Often times, when we are irritable, easily frustrated, or downright angry, we identify our heart as sick and must allow our Heavenly Physician to lead us to healing. “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” - Proverbs 27:19
- Seek the Heart of God - The Bible tells us in Proverbs 28:26 “That he who trusts in his own heart is a fool…” lets face it, we are born with a sinful nature and our hearts can so easily be corrupted. If we choose to constantly renew our hearts (like we do our minds) we must lean into His Word. By learning His heart, we will be more able to see between right and wrong, good and evil. When you are feeling off, seek after God’s own heart and ask that He transforms yours to be more like His.
- Rest - We all need rest; and living in a society that is so “go, go, go” most of the time, leads us to exhaustion. You see, the enemy wants us to stay distracted and busy. He can find our weak spots and attack us in these moments. With frequent times of spiritual (as well as emotional and physical) rest, we will find ourselves less likely to become heart sick. This can look like turning your phone off for an hour or 12 and having a day to just be. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” - Psalm 51:10
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Most of us are living with dangerous plaque in our spiritual hearts. We have had pains and heartaches that have caused us to feel broken, disappointed, and beaten down. It's easy for us to seek love in all the wrong ways. If you challenge yourself to truly discover His love for you over the next few weeks as the new normal for the world is established, you'll also find a love that you never knew was possible. Your heart is a precious, vital part of you. Cherish it, keep it healthy and above all else guard it.