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bluidkiti · 03-09-2014, 10:31 AM

Power for Living Part 5 - Guarding Your Heart

by Gail Rodgers
The ambulance ride to the hospital took us all by surprise. Dad’s heart attack was completely unexpected! As we awaited Dad’s surgery we learned a clogged artery in his heart had caused all the problem. Years of not being careful what went into his mouth now took its toll on his heart. Not heeding the warnings nearly cost him his life!

What happens in our physical hearts when we allow too much junk in is much the same as what happens to us spiritually when we leave our hearts unguarded. The Bible warns us in pretty strong language:

“Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life”. Proverbs 2:23

“The wellspring”... . that place where everything bubbles out from. You know the old saying, “It isn’t your actions that tell so much about what you are like as it is your reactions”. What springs forth in that unexpected moment comes from the heart. Love, faith, inspiration, or frustration, anger, criticism, all spring from the same place. A place that needs guarding because things sneak in and we often don’t even realize they are there, clogging the system, until that reaction springs forth surprising even ourselves.
So how does one guard the heart? By first guarding the thoughts. Thoughts not taken captive (Part 4) begin to run a rut in our minds and make their way down into our hearts where they become an attitude! Attitudes permeate our lives.
Having the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives to help us guard our hearts will bring change in the attitudes that permeate our lives. When we are powerless to take captive our thoughts our hearts remain unguarded. The Holy Spirit will empower us to do this. You will notice that as you ask Him to help you take captive your thoughts and guard your heart you will become increasingly conscious of being able to choose throughout the day what you are thinking and how you are reacting. The nudge of the Holy Spirit comes quietly and quickly when we entertain wrong thinking and wrong attitudes. By choosing to respond to His gentle touch you will find yourself being “transformed by the renewing of your mind” Romans 12:2.
You can trust him for this and when you do you will find peace coming into your heart in ways you never imagined.

“God will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is steadfast on Him because he trusts in Him.” Isaiah 26:3&4

03-09-2014, 10:31 AM	#5
bluidkiti Administrator Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 70,608	Power for Living Part 5 - Guarding Your Heart by Gail Rodgers The ambulance ride to the hospital took us all by surprise. Dad’s heart attack was completely unexpected! As we awaited Dad’s surgery we learned a clogged artery in his heart had caused all the problem. Years of not being careful what went into his mouth now took its toll on his heart. Not heeding the warnings nearly cost him his life! What happens in our physical hearts when we allow too much junk in is much the same as what happens to us spiritually when we leave our hearts unguarded. The Bible warns us in pretty strong language: “Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life”. Proverbs 2:23 “The wellspring”... . that place where everything bubbles out from. You know the old saying, “It isn’t your actions that tell so much about what you are like as it is your reactions”. What springs forth in that unexpected moment comes from the heart. Love, faith, inspiration, or frustration, anger, criticism, all spring from the same place. A place that needs guarding because things sneak in and we often don’t even realize they are there, clogging the system, until that reaction springs forth surprising even ourselves. So how does one guard the heart? By first guarding the thoughts. Thoughts not taken captive (Part 4) begin to run a rut in our minds and make their way down into our hearts where they become an attitude! Attitudes permeate our lives. Having the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives to help us guard our hearts will bring change in the attitudes that permeate our lives. When we are powerless to take captive our thoughts our hearts remain unguarded. The Holy Spirit will empower us to do this. You will notice that as you ask Him to help you take captive your thoughts and guard your heart you will become increasingly conscious of being able to choose throughout the day what you are thinking and how you are reacting. The nudge of the Holy Spirit comes quietly and quickly when we entertain wrong thinking and wrong attitudes. By choosing to respond to His gentle touch you will find yourself being “transformed by the renewing of your mind” Romans 12:2. You can trust him for this and when you do you will find peace coming into your heart in ways you never imagined. “God will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is steadfast on Him because he trusts in Him.” Isaiah 26:3&4 __________________ "No matter what you have done up to this moment, you get 24 brand-new hours to spend every single day." --Brian Tracy AA gives us an opportunity to recreate ourselves, with God's help, one day at a time. --Rufus K. When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. --Franklin D. Roosevelt We stay sober and clean together - one day at a time! God says that each of us is worth loving.