GOD’S WAY TO PROTECT OUR HEARTS

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.- PROVERBS 4:23

What happens when we fail to vigilantly guard our hearts? Here is a comparison from my own life. I had a medical condition called a leaky gut. It occurred when I was unknowingly exposed to live mold spores in my home.

God created a thin barrier in our guts to prevent foreign things from getting into our bloodstream. When pathogens, viruses, or in my case environmental toxins, tear holes in that lining, harmful substances leak out. That creates a plethora of diseases.

Now correlate that with our hearts. God created our hearts to hold truths from his word through meditating and memorizing. The enemy seeks to tear holes in our hearts so that they are no longer sealed with a barrier of truth.

Ephesians 6:16-17 tells us how to prevent the devil from gaining entrance to our hearts. It says, “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

The destructive hidden pathogens of unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, hatred, etc. tear holes in our hearts’ lining that affect our spiritual health. All fiery darts are lies. If we allow them to penetrate our minds, they will set up an inner stronghold. Then the battle no longer comes from the outside, but from within our hearts.

Hiding God’s word in our hearts puts holes in those inner strongholds of Satan, to weaken them. The truth we inculcate through memorizing and meditating on Scripture, causes the foundation of those strongholds to crumble.

Dear Lord, I am so grateful that you have given me your hidden word to defeat the evil designs against my faith. Thank you for giving me a powerful tool through memorizing and meditating. I love your way of effectively building strong protective barriers in my heart!

Today’s challenge: If you are not already memorizing and meditating on scripture regularly, why not start? Many people find music helps – simply search “Scripture Memory Songs” and you’ll find many online. Or download a Bible memory app. Again, you will find a number to choose from.

God Has Time for You

Just as God is never too busy for us, we need to slow down enough to give others the gift our time.

Mark 10:46-52

Time is precious. It’s a tremendously valuable gift that we can give to others. And Jesus showed us how to manage our time well. One important way He demonstrated His love for mankind was by being available.

The Lord had much to accomplish in His few years of earthly ministry. But wherever He went, He was sensitive to the needs of the people around Him and reached out in love to help.

In this month’s Bible study, we saw that shortly before going to the cross, Jesus stopped to help a poor blind beggar—a “nobody” in the eyes of society. Although the redemption of mankind was vitally important, the Lord cared enough about the suffering of one person to stop and do what He could to provide relief.

If Jesus stopped on the way to the cross in order to help someone, will He not also stop and listen when you call out to Him in your distress? He is never too busy to listen to one of His beloved children.

We are stewards of all that God gives us, including our time. How can you, like Jesus, reach out in love today and give someone the gift of your availability?

The Great Confirmer

The words of the Amen.

Revelation 3:14

The word Amen solemnly confirms what went before, and Jesus is the great Confirmer; immutable forever is “the Amen” in all His promises. Sinner, I would comfort you with this reflection. Jesus Christ said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”¹ If you come to Him, He will say “Amen” in your soul; His promise shall be true to you. He said in the days of His flesh, “A bruised reed he will not break.”² Poor, broken, bruised heart, if you come to Him, He will say “Amen” to you, and it will be true in your soul as in hundreds of cases in years gone by.

Christian, isn’t this very comforting to you also, that there is not a word that has come from the Savior’s lips that He has ever retracted? The words of Jesus will stand when heaven and earth pass away. If you get ahold of but half a promise, you will find it true. Watch out for those who ignore the promises and so miss much of the comfort of God’s Word.

Jesus is Yes and Amen in all His offices. He was a Priest to pardon and cleanse once; He is Amen as Priest still. He was a King to rule and reign for His people and to defend them with His mighty arm; He is an Amen King, the same still. He was a Prophet of old, to foretell good things to come; His words remain trustworthy and true—He is an Amen Prophet. He is Amen as to the merit of His blood; He is Amen as to His righteousness. That sacred robe will remain most fair and glorious when nature shall decay. He is Amen in every single title that He bears; your Husband, never seeking a divorce; your Friend, sticking closer than a brother; your Shepherd, with you in death’s dark vale; your Help and your Deliverer; your Refuge and your Strong Tower; the Vessel of your strength, your confidence, your joy, your all in all, and your Yes and Amen in everything.

¹⁾ Matthew 11:28
²⁾ Matthew 12:20