Above All, Guard your Heart.

 

 

Above All, Guard your Heart

My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let then out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are LIFE to those who find then and HEALTH to a man’s whole body. ABOVE ALL ELSE, GUARD YOUR HEART, FOR IT IS THE WELLSPRING OF LIFE.” Proverbs 4:20-23 niv

I have many favorite verses, but these verses go right to the top of the list and each time I read them I cannot help smiling. They are love promises and the only way I can describe the way it affects me is when we put oil in our car that assures its health of running smoothly. In spiritual terms, the oil brings me joy!  What is your favorite food? For some it would mean a tasty steak cooked exactly the way you like it. Picture that steak placed right in front of you, and you’ve just taken that first bite. That is the way eating the word of God tastes. Some are addicted to coffee or chocolate; but there are a few of us out here who drink the word of God. It feeds everything inside and outside of you. Nothing is left untouched. God’s word is truly a WELLSPRING!

In the KJV vs 20 says: “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my saying.”

That word incline expresses an act and an agreement with what is being given to him. Incline means to lean, to bend the head and body forward, to bow, to listen closely and pay attention. Have you ever noticed how some people will learn forward to listen to a subject they are interested in? This is how we learn to hear God’s voice. Incline your ear. These aren’t just words, but a command.  Be willing to learn as this is how we will gain understanding through His precepts.  We stretch out from ourselves, we stop and humble ourselves to open our ears, to hear what the Master wants to say to us.

Vs 21.  “Let them not depart from thine eyes. Keep them in the midst of thine heart.”

Keep reading. Think about the promises you are reading and keep them safe in your heart. Put them in your inner man. You are storing up truth to meditate upon.  

Vs 22.  “For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”

What does that mean? Life?  

This means that God’s word could save your life. His words are truth. When we pursue this truth with a humble heart, we discover what was missing in our lives. Some would say it is like a aha moment. Others would say, “I have found the answer.”  We cannot find it without hearing His word. For every problem you have, there is a solution written for you to apply in your life. Life in the here and for eternity.

What does health mean? Health to all our flesh?

Once you believe in the written word, the Holy Spirit comes and begins to give you more understanding to apply in your life. Your Faith will no longer limit the word or limit what God can do for you and your thinking processes. As you read, you will discover the Son of God who came to set people free from the spirits of darkness and themselves and from a lifetime of fear, bondages and replace them with His Holy Spirit. With godly thinking brings a new way of life and comes health in so many ways. It is like putting that oil in a lamp. The oil is The Holy Spirit that places salve on a wound that otherwise wouldn’t heal.  Nothing gets Gods attention quicker than applying the faith that He has given to us. We will either listen to the flesh and respond in unbelief or we will listen to the Holy Spirit and respond in belief.  Which do you pick?

Are you listening?

Vs. 23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.”

Everything we see, hear, touch, taste, and smell if we aren’t careful will go into our hearts and then overflow out of our mouths. Guard what you hear, what you read, what you see and what you believe. Ask yourself, does it add His love and more faith in your life or take away from it? The more you meditate upon Gods words the wiser your heart and your soul will be rejoicing because you will be speaking what is right.  You will be learning how to speak what is right, at the perfect time to meet a productive cause in that person’s life [and yours]. Learning does this.

The Bible talks about the Watchmen. We are all called to be a type of Watchman as we guard our hearts. Think about it, we have the Kingdom of God within us. We have His Holy Spirit within us. We are the Ark of the New Testament that is carrying His words of life within us. The Ark of the New Covenant is within us. Are we not to watch what we put inside of our temples?

Protect what God has given to you, cherish it, apply it in your life and diligently use His words to help others who are looking for help and solutions.

Pray with me:

 

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for giving me a deeper understanding of Your word. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit and the great love that manifests to me daily. I ask that You teach me and guide me into that perfect union with Your Son Jesus. I ask that You forgive me for not guarding my heart as I should. I repent on this, and I ask that You renew my faith to be that example of His love and having a sensitive clear conscience through all my decisions. Remind me to be that cautious Watchman and not allow anything inside of me that doesn’t belong in there. Thank You Father, in Jesus I pray, amen.

 

 

My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let then out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are LIFE to those who find then and HEALTH to a man’s whole body. ABOVE ALL ELSE, GUARD YOUR HEART, FOR IT IS THE WELLSPRING OF LIFE.” Proverbs 4:20-23 niv

I have many favorite verses, but these verses go right to the top of the list and each time I read them I cannot help smiling. They are love promises and the only way I can describe the way it affects me is when we put oil in our car that assures its health of running smoothly. In spiritual terms, the oil brings me joy!  What is your favorite food? For some it would mean a tasty steak cooked exactly the way you like it. Picture that steak placed right in front of you, and you’ve just taken that first bite. That is the way eating the word of God tastes. Some are addicted to coffee or chocolate; but there are a few of us out here who drink the word of God. It feeds everything inside and outside of you. Nothing is left untouched. God’s word is truly a WELLSPRING!

In the KJV vs 20 says: “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my saying.”

That word incline expresses an act and an agreement with what is being given to him. Incline means to lean, to bend the head and body forward, to bow, to listen closely and pay attention. Have you ever noticed how some people will learn forward to listen to a subject they are interested in? This is how we learn to hear God’s voice. Incline your ear. These aren’t just words, but a command.  Be willing to learn as this is how we will gain understanding through His precepts.  We stretch out from ourselves, we stop and humble ourselves to open our ears, to hear what the Master wants to say to us.

Vs 21.  “Let them not depart from thine eyes. Keep them in the midst of thine heart.”

Keep reading. Think about the promises you are reading and keep them safe in your heart. Put them in your inner man. You are storing up truth to meditate upon.  

Vs 22.  “For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”

What does that mean? Life?  

This means that God’s word could save your life. His words are truth. When we pursue this truth with a humble heart, we discover what was missing in our lives. Some would say it is like a aha moment. Others would say, “I have found the answer.”  We cannot find it without hearing His word. For every problem you have, there is a solution written for you to apply in your life. Life in the here and for eternity.

What does health mean? Health to all our flesh?

Once you believe in the written word, the Holy Spirit comes and begins to give you more understanding to apply in your life. Your Faith will no longer limit the word or limit what God can do for you and your thinking processes. As you read, you will discover the Son of God who came to set people free from the spirits of darkness and themselves and from a lifetime of fear, bondages and replace them with His Holy Spirit. With godly thinking brings a new way of life and comes health in so many ways. It is like putting that oil in a lamp. The oil is The Holy Spirit that places salve on a wound that otherwise wouldn’t heal.  Nothing gets Gods attention quicker than applying the faith that He has given to us. We will either listen to the flesh and respond in unbelief or we will listen to the Holy Spirit and respond in belief.  Which do you pick?

Are you listening?

Vs. 23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.”

Everything we see, hear, touch, taste, and smell if we aren’t careful will go into our hearts and then overflow out of our mouths. Guard what you hear, what you read, what you see and what you believe. Ask yourself, does it add His love and more faith in your life or take away from it? The more you meditate upon Gods words the wiser your heart and your soul will be rejoicing because you will be speaking what is right.  You will be learning how to speak what is right, at the perfect time to meet a productive cause in that person’s life [and yours]. Learning does this.

The Bible talks about the Watchmen. We are all called to be a type of Watchman as we guard our hearts. Think about it, we have the Kingdom of God within us. We have His Holy Spirit within us. We are the Ark of the New Testament that is carrying His words of life within us. The Ark of the New Covenant is within us. Are we not to watch what we put inside of our temples?

Protect what God has given to you, cherish it, apply it in your life and diligently use His words to help others who are looking for help and solutions.

Pray with me:

 

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for giving me a deeper understanding of Your word. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit and the great love that manifests to me daily. I ask that You teach me and guide me into that perfect union with Your Son Jesus. I ask that You forgive me for not guarding my heart as I should. I repent on this, and I ask that You renew my faith to be that example of His love and having a sensitive clear conscience through all my decisions. Remind me to be that cautious Watchman and not allow anything inside of me that doesn’t belong in there. Thank You Father, in Jesus I pray, amen.

 

 

Humility reverses Pride #2

 

Humility reverses Pride #2

What does a vintage 1953 VW have to do with humility and pride? Read on and you will find out.

                     

 

The Scoop #4

 

                                      Humility reverses Pride #2

 

Just a little bit of pride can be the downfall of a career that says, “I was the one who deserved that raise!” Did your prideful attitude prevent the raise? In a marriage that says, “I will never forgive him [her]!” Could there possibly be the thought you may have done the same thing, only in a different way? Think about it.  And a nation who says, “Look at what we have done, how powerful we are!” Look how great we are!” 

We are in trouble when we slip self-importance before humbleness. Before the Love of God. Pride divides. Most marital spats are caused because of pride. Is it worth it?  How can we genuinely love God if we are putting ourselves before Him?

I ask you a simple question:

Why is it when we look at the stately beauty of a tree that gives shade in the heat of summer, eye candy in the autumn, welcomes those who need homes, wood to keep us warm, paper for us to use, furniture and yet; that tree remains humble? That glorious tree lives to radiate Gods glory and to give to us. We hear the birds sing praises to God every morning without a murmur or complaint. I had a dragonfly that would follow me around the garden and kept fearlessly landing on my wrist many years ago and his beautiful eyes looked right up into my mine as if to say, “I trust you.” How do they know those who would never hurt them and those that would? Do trees, birds or dragon flies have pride? No, I think not. Unlike some of us, they know they have a mission.

There lies America’s biggest weakness and temptation. For some, she must be number one and powerful forever. Birthed in 1776 on Independence Day, we are the offspring of Europe and many other nations who bathed in the freedom offered in this new land. Our forefathers dedicated baby America to God, and He blessed and blessed us with freedom. Our schools taught the Bible and prayed. Hardships came with the new land and sometimes, we learned through our mistakes. We went through wars and experienced depressions, droughts, harsh storms, floods, and plagues and the sorrows of many deaths. We learned to be frugal through the great depression and not to waste a thing. Then after another war, prosperity knocked on our doors and we started rocking and rolling with all the seducements offered. Life became easier. Slowly we began to forget about God and allowed idolatry to come into the land.  We were a young child in a fairy tale of a land of abundance. People began buying homes and cars on time and the bankers smiled with glee.

America, you went from not having anything to having an abundance of everything in such a short time. But, in your early years, you always honored the God who sent you here. You were once a child, but now it is time to grow up.

 When a child is given everything and has never heard the word no, that child will demand its way because that is the way he was raised.

Why? Because he can.

If a two-year-old is asked permission from the parent if it is all right for him to stop disobeying, who is running the household? For example: “Johnny, stop hitting your sister, all right? “

Why? Because he can.

If a child is raised in an environment that never had to be without anything, how does he develop a thankful heart? If a child has had everything done for him, including his thinking; how will he learn to function when he goes into the world? If he has never learned to wait or work for something, how will he begin to learn from the testing’s that produces patience? When he is grown and works for a living, he will begin to learn that life is not a comfortable buggy ride after all and that the principles of sowing and reaping are indeed truth. In time, we learn what we sow comes back to bite us in the derriere.

Will that child be able to marry successfully when he was taught to be  number one and selfish and already married to himself?

When a nation is nestled in a self-serving habit of believing a battery of lies, pride is produced. A self-destructive form of complacency and decay begins to come in many forms of darkness, and the nation becomes blind to God’s mercy and truth.

“All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.”

Psalm 25:10 kjv.

That nation begins to shun truth and gives into the idolatry of perversion, lies, greed in every abominable area and not only promotes it but teaches it. 

America has become caustic.

Good people slept and languished while a thief came and began to successfully steal truth from the most innocent of hearts and the accusers flourish while declaring good is evil. If you do not believe in Satan wake up and listen to what is going on today. Most people can see we are fighting a spiritual problem against good vs evil. And the Laodicean church simply turned their head.

The greed of materialism watered their palates as boundaries came down in every area of the land. Many began to walk away from their faith and believe in the lie that we have all, is all and can do all. The arrogance of pride gives a blind false confidence.

Jesus Christ laid His life down so we can have forgiveness of our sins, freedom from being a slave to those sins, and receive God’s truth in His Son. Only then, can we say, “I can do all things in Christ.”    Will you believe it?  In Him we have our hope.

He gave. We are to give.  Pride never wins or apologizes. I have heard pride justify itself even with the word of God. Then pride falls.

Love is not permissiveness. Love is caring enough to jump into the water to save a person who is drowning because he chose the wrong way. Love is doing because this is when pride eventually retreats. And, God Himself will make a way for you to do this good,

We depended upon things first and God later and if we do not correct our behavior, God will because He still loves us more than any good father here on earth. What a powerful Father we have!

Have you given thought of what true humility really is? True humbleness is admitting that we are wrong. That we have sinned many times. That we have left the God of Creation to do things independently and not Gods way. Unbelief and doubt are the foundation of all sin. You cannot be humble if you do not believe in the truth, nor can you see clearly.

Years back, before I was born-again, I was driving my vintage 1953 VW beetle tin can of a car home from a bar in the blackest of night. I noticed an oncoming car was headed towards me in my lane. I could barely see under its blinding lights. In nanoseconds I jerked the steering wheel first to the left and saw the car race past me. I noticed I was going to go into a ditch and tore the wheel to the right and it was then that the bug rolled and bounced 3 times in the air like a giant heavy basketball. I remember hearing a lady scream as I bounced. Right before I landed, [no seat belts back then] the door popped open with me falling on the ground. Laying there I noticed I couldn’t move my legs. My thoughts? “Oh Father, please not that.” [I had previously met my Holy Father in a Catholic Orphanage when I was 5 years old.] Little by little I started moving my toes, then my feet and got up on my legs. By that time, the police and ambulance were there. Did the lady who screamed call the ambulance? Did she pray for me? They couldn’t believe I was alive. I looked over at the VW that was completely flattened. If I hadn’t fallen out, I would have been flattened too. Yes, there are always consequences from our decisions! During that time, I didn’t have any thoughts or fear of what could have happened.  If I had the fear of God, I would not have even been at the bar or on the road. It is only by the grace of God that I walked away with bruises.

You could be thinking; “I thought we had a loving God? Why should I fear Him?” The Bible tells us to “Fear God and live.” After I was born-again, I realized that fearing God keeps you from sinning. This is the realization of knowing when you step out of His will and deliberately sin, you are going to be chastised. He cares enough to stop us from ruining our lives. Real humbleness and wisdom begins with the fear of God.

“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.”
—Proverbs 14:27

We still have hope. Yes, we must keep praying in faith; but now it is time to give up your own self importance and trust in God with everything you have in yourself. It is time to get right with God and time to grow up.

“Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for: through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil.” Pr.16:6 niv

That man fears God because he has chosen to believe in Him. This is a heart choice.

We learn humility through repentance, and this is the only thing that will bring a family and a nation back to God and it begins with a heart reckoning. It begins with us. It begins with accepting the truth about Jesus and how He went to the cross so we could have forgiveness for our sins and have eternal life. It all begins with you.

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people. If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, THEN will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2Ch. 7:13, 14 niv.

 

Pray with me:

Heavenly Father,

I know I have sinned, and I realize I have hurt many people through my selfish choices. I need You in my life. I need a miracle. I desperately need your help. I ask that You would forgive me for [name them]_________.  I repent and put down all my pride and ask that Your Holy Spirit would fill me up and teach me everything I need to know to be that new person in Christ. Work in my heart, my mind and soul. Give me the strength I need to be that overcomer that believers need to be. I ask that You never give up on me, for Your word says that You never start something that You do not finish. Send me Your people to pray with me and help me grow. In Jesus I ask, amen.

 

If you have prayed from your heart in humble sincerity, I wholeheartedly welcome you into the family of God. Though you will still have trials, you will have the Body of Christ to help you through the rockiness. Grow and learn about Jesus Christ and learn wisdom that will give you the strength to obey His precepts, stand upon His promises and see His hand in your life everywhere you go. Find a good Bible believing church and make good friends that will be by your side while you journey. Never forget, you are loved and you are not alone!