My mom used to say to me all the time as a kid, “Be careful what you listen to and put in your mind.” I, like the rest of you, thought, nah this lady is crazy. But oh boy was she correct. (Love you ma)
“Guard your hearts above all else, for it is the source of life.“
Proverbs 4:23
Guard your hearts….
I didn’t know what that phrase meant a month ago.
So I wouldn’t call myself an emotional person, but I do tend to invest emotionally in things or ideas. I have found this true, like in my last blog, when you place your hope in someone or something, it eventually will disappoint you if it’s not God.
I will speak specifically. When I have invested in people (friend or potentially more) way more than I should have, I am always left broken hearted and discouraged. I cannot tell you how many times that I have put myself in that place. At least twice in the last 2 years! As if you are going to try and invest in a relationship, you have to give it your all. I never understood the brokenness when things didn’t work out or seemed like it was going bad. I always took it as if it is a normal part of life. Sure disappointment is still real and carries weight, but there is a difference between disappointment and brokenness. I actually had no clue that it wasn’t supposed to be that way until the last month.
The last time I was interested in pursuing a relationship, it was a very inconvenient time for either of us, regardless if she felt the same way or not. She is a very passionate follower of Christ, and how she responded, I didn’t understand until a long time later, but it stuck with me. “Are you going to guard your heart and what does that mean for you specifically.”
Long story short, I didn’t understand the concept of not emotionally investing, so in the end, I was left very disappointed. I had placed my hope in a person and idea that I had no business entertaining the idea in the first place.
Guard your hearts….
Thoughts–>Actions–>Habit–>Life Choices
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight.“
Psalm 19:14
“Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise – dwell on these things.”
Philippians 4:8
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wonder from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
Psalm 119:9-11
“Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. A good man produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil man produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.“
Matthew 12:34-35
It all starts with your thoughts. Everything comes from your thoughts. You must think about pure and acceptable things in the sight of God. You can combat the enemy and guard your heart by believing and studying scripture, God’s Word! When Jesus was tempted after fasting for 40 days and nights, He could have done whatever he pleased to satan. He is God. He has all authority to do what He wanted. But what did He do? He used His own Word to combat the temptation and attack of satan. (Matthew 4). The God of the universe, with all power and authority, used His word to fight the attack of the devil. Think about the power that His Word obviously must possess then. We have that same power through the Holy Spirit and His Word available for us to fight against the enemy. If that doesn’t make a southern baptist jump up faster than lunch time, I don’t know what will.
Guard your hearts….
I am by no means a Casting Crowns fan, but this is a paraphrase of the lyrics to their song “Slow Fade.”
“Be careful little;
- Eyes, what you see
- Feet, where you go
- Ears, what you hear
- Lips, what you say
The journey from your mind to your hands is shorter than you think. Be careful if you think you stand, you might be sinking.“
Aside from my story, think about how many ways that statement, “Guard your hearts” applies to our lives. Guard what you are letting enter your minds. What you listen to, what you see, where you let your thoughts wonder off to. This impacts every part of your life.
Guard your hearts….
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Update: I will be home in less than a month! It has been a long, but too fast 9 months. Thank you to all of my supporters. Thank you for the prayers for my squad and me during this season. We are forever grateful. God has used this time to change my life and used us to change the lives of others around the world. Also, as of March 30th, I am fully funded and am prepared to return home! Please continue to pray for us the last few weeks here and for a safe return home. I also am still raising support for my next step in the fall, the discipleship program CGA. This is probably my last blog on the race! Thanks for keeping up with me and what the Lord has been doing in and through me in this journey! Love you all!
**Nothing against Casting Crowns, homie don’t play that.
