Guard Your Hearts

Confession. I was a fan of Steve Irwin as the “Crocodile Hunter” for years. Actually, I think it was his adorable daughter, Bindi, with her tender heart, optimism and spunk that drew me in the most. Of course, I was cheering for her when she was on “Dancing with the Stars” and went on to win that season. In March, this year, Bindi married Chandler Powell.

Since I’ve caught you up with Bindi, I’ll get to the point of my blog. Her dad, though facing dangers daily with fierce animals, always made a point to be alert and guard his body from any surprise attacks by the animals he encountered. But, he didn’t guard his heart -- the one area that was most vulnerable. At just 44, Steve’s heart was pierced by the poisonous spine of a stingray. It was a tragic accident and loss for the world. The good news is his family carries on his work in Australia.

That story reminded me how important it is to guard our spiritual hearts. Proverbs 4:23 says: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” My blog, yesterday, referenced John 14:27 “Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." That sounds like a command that helps us guard our hearts. Guarding our hearts is essential because it impacts everything we do. Our spiritual heart is the core of our mind, our will and our emotions.

We’ve heard it said: "They have cold hearts!" That means their heart has been hardened to tenderness, compassion and even causes their eyes to close to those things that hamper our relationship with God. And, I know those who have such sensitive and tender hearts that even when they see a frightened kitten they can't help but be merciful to it. They are the ones who volunteer or support a charity because their warm-heart is drawn to removing suffering in our world.

That’s why guarding our heart is so important. A heart that is guarded walks away from negativity. They leave because they don’t want that "noise" in their heart. A guarded heart isn't egotistical, boastful, or hateful. Remember when God said to Samuel about the big brothers of David who were tall, strong, handsome (and probably debonair with the ladies – okay, that’s Donna’s interpretation)? “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 God had already chosen David, the little shepherd boy who had a heart for God, for his sheep, and his music.

I was drawn to talk about our hearts today because, quite frankly, our hearts have been challenged during these months of so much change to our lives. Maybe your heart has become cold. Maybe some negative relationships and situations have fostered coldness in your heart. The unkind talk you've been around and listened to has affected your talk and walk. Maybe you are watching television shows and movies that are causing your heart to be compromised. It has become callous to killing, stealing, adultery, profane language. You just haven’t thought about the impact on your heart that the enemy is intent on hardening. Maybe for some, it’s social media and browsing the internet that has desensitized your heart.

I’m confessing to you that I am examining my own heart that easily gets drawn into matters that affect my heart condition -– that causes my heart to be less tender, less compassionate, less feeling. I pray that this blog is like a probe on our hearts that reveals what is causing the insensitivity, the hard-heartedness and the callousness. I pray our hearts are cleansed and we guard them with 10 feet tall angels stationed around them. That we not allow our spiritual arteries to get clogged up so much that we have a spiritual heart attack and our spiritual life implodes. "Above all else – guard your heart. Because everything flows from it."

Is it a Heart Condition or a Condition of the Heart?

Sitting quietly, I noticed I could hear my heart beating. Thump, thump, thump – perfect rhythm, but loud and clear. I told my eye doctor and my family practitioner about it and both advised me to see a cardiologist – just to be sure there wasn’t something out of order. Now, mind you – I’m not prone to doctor visits, but I heeded their advice. Thankfully the two tests – a carotid doppler and an echo showed no concerns except a little plaque build-up. She advised me to eat less red meat, avoid saturated fats and get plenty of exercise. I’m taking her advice! And, as for hearing my heart beat ❤️❤️❤️ I’m taking it as a way to have better rhythm with this built-in metronome inside me. 😉

More serious to me than a physical heart condition, is the condition of my spirit aka my heart. You know, the heart that is pure and merry (like a good medicine) or we let down our guard and negative thoughts and attitudes show up that can cause a build-up of wrong thinking in our heart. No matter if everything is A-okay on my pumping heart, if the heart of my inner man is harboring grudges, fears, anxieties and concerns – then I have a condition of my heart that REALLY needs to be tended to.

It starts with a regular check-up. The cardiologist advised that I should come back in two years for a heart check-up to be sure all is well. As Christians, we need regular "heart" check-ups too. We can go through all the motions of being a devoted follower of Christ, but if our attitude-indicator (our heart) reveals "heart issues", then we’d best be doing something about it.

King Solomon in Proverbs 4:23 said it best: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it determines the course of your life.” Notice that it says, we need to guard our heart. Sounds like a full-time job because the wily enemy sneaks in when we least expect it with his evil tactics. But, never fear -- because the GREATER ONE partners with us with a shield of peace. And, peace is sure what we need to set us on the right course for our lives.

Philippians 4:7 says "And the PEACE of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." That is why we need regular check-ups. It may look like a friend, spouse, or children are giving us a hard time and the angst is building up on the inside of our heart – but in reality, it’s the tactics of the enemy who steals the peace in our hearts. But, when we apply the PEACE shield, our hearts are protected. Aw! Sweet peace that is like a the medical procedure that opens up blockages for better blood flow to the heart.

God always provide us with ways of succeeding in this life. His peace is a guard for us. "No peace. No God. Know God. Know peace." No question -- it can be a work out because we don't know when and what will come up to steal our peace. That's why partnering with the Holy Spirit will keep our heart right as we pray prayers like this: “Create in me a clean heart, oh Lord, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10.

Oh the rewards for having a pure heart! Matthew 5:8 says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” What is the condition of your heart? Maybe it's time for a Holy Spirit check-up! God knows our hearts, and most importantly, He has our hearts that are surrendered, pliable, and tender toward Him -- He Who gave His heart for us.

The Sky is Falling!!! Oh, No, it’s Not!

Remember the story of Chicken Little? Chicken Little was having a great day when an acorn fell from a tree, hitting the top of her head and she cries out: "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!"

Proverbs 4:23 says "Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life." Isn't that so true? From just an acorn, Chicken Little thought the world was coming to an end. We have encountered something far greater than an acorn. The COVID-19 has consumed our thoughts and actions and our "normal" is no longer normal.

I’ve heard many talks about this being the “end-times”, so in a sense we could be thinking “the sky is falling” or rather, the end is near. But, rest assured, only God knows "the end", but I do believe that "what the enemy meant for evil" (Genesis 50:20), God in His "Master Plan" mode is causing us to have an “upward” perspective towards Him. COVID-19 is nothing compared to our God. If we continue to immerse ourselves in daily binge-watching the news and dwelling on the 33,000 people who have died from the C-virus versus the 150,000 who have recovered out of the 778,000 confirmed cases (statistics from WHO), we’ll get as worked up as Chicken Little.

We must get a grip. Are we going to live by news reports or recognize the enemy who wants to keep us in fear, worry and doubt? We can turn those thoughts inside out and into thoughts like "We will overcome. I am strong. I am protected by the blood of Jesus. I have an assignment to fulfill. I walk in divine health. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. God is for me and who can be against me? God holds my todays and tomorrows, so why should I worry or fret?" I know this about God:: “Fear is reality minus God. Faith is reality plus God.”

The sky is NOT falling! So, there is no need to buy paper goods and antibacterial soap till the shelves are empty every day. Unfortunately, some people get the virus and recover and sadly some die. (Last year 18,000 to 20,000 died in the U.S. from the flu). Let’s keep everything in proper perspective. Let’s do what the medical professionals and our government officials are telling us to do – social distancing, washing our hands, etc. – and spread positivity while the scientists around the world are working on the solution to kill the virus.

The most important is to PRAY – big time. Many faith groups are setting up the Sign-Up Genius app for around-the-clock prayers for our health professionals, laborers who are on the front lines and for those who are relegated to stay at home and especially for those who are struggling with their finances and for anyone who has contracted the virus. Lord, have mercy!

There are NO negatives in the Kingdom of God. Every obstacle in our life has a promise and a provision attached to it. The Father is not up in Heaven losing sleep over the COVID-19 virus. He is not filled with fear for His children and He does not feel like He is losing control. Let’s be like Him and apply His Word (like these) to our daily routines:

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” (‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭23‬). God gives us His wisdom, so ask His advice before we leave our home or do something that we think could possibly put us at risk.‬‬‬

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6-7‬). God wants us to come to Him with thanksgiving -- thankful that He directs our steps, gives us His wisdom, fills us with hope, and casts out all our fear.‬‬‬

“No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” (‭Psalms‬ ‭91‬:‭10-11‬). This promise wasn’t only for the Israelites. In Jesus name, and by the healing power of His blood, we are protected from this plague!‬‬‬

Heavenly Father, Your faithful love endures forever! Nothing surprises You. You delight in steering us clear of fear, anxiety, panic, sickness, and any other negative in our life. We ask for divine revelation to come to scientists and medical teams for a cure and it is administered quickly. Help us to be a light to those that are filled with panic. I pray that our peace would draw them to You. You are a good, good Father, and we love You! In the healing name of Jesus, amen, and so be it. 🙏🙏🙏

Shut the Front Door!

"Sticks & stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!" We've said that, but we didn't mean it. Some words DID and DO hurt us! Someone spoke negatively about us when we gave something our all, or someone spoke ugly about one of our kids or family members. Or our mind is playing the same old record: “You’re not good enough. You’re not pretty or handsome enough. You're not slim enough. You’re not smart enough.” But we don't have to accept those words or let them into the doorway of our hearts and minds. We can close and lock those doors.

We have the opportunity every day to “Shut the front door!” I heard Kristin Chenoweth, as a judge on the “So You Think You Can Dance” show, give her remarks about the exquisite and inspiring dance by a young lady. She exclaimed “Shut the front door! Shut the back door! Shut the garage door! Shut them all!”

And that’s the message I’m conveying to you AND me today. It’s time to SHUT THE DOOR to those voices – the ones that say “You might as well give up. You’re going to fail again.” And to those that whisper in your ears “You’ll never outlast this setback!” Or, “You’re getting old. All those aches and pains are just going to get worse.” Or those inner voices that taunt you and say, “Those kids of yours are the most unruly, impolite, rowdy, and uncontrollable kids on this earth.” Or, “You’re never going to get that promotion!” On and on…..those voices that continue to get louder as they scream "FAILURE" in our heads.

Proverbs 4:23 says “More than anything you guard, protect your mind, for life flows from it.” Actually, we should be guarding our minds like the army guards Fort Knox. Below the fortress-like structure of Fort Knox lies the gold vault that is protected by a blast-proof door weighing 20 tons and 21-inches thick and made of the latest torch-and-drill-resistant material. Members of the Depository staff must dial separate combinations known only to them. Beyond the main vault door, smaller compartments provide further protection. That's the protection we should be providing for what we allow in our minds.

That scripture in Proverbs tells us to guard and protect our minds. We control the doorway to what we’re going to allow in. We have the “Master” filtering codes. We can dwell on every negative thing people AND the enemy of our souls have said, every derogatory comment, or we can choose to kick it out the door, then lock the door, and dwell on what God says about us." Let’s shut the front door, the back door and ALL doors AND windows where the enemy likes to sneak in and infiltrate his lies and keeps trying to take us down with his nasty words of defeat and fear. WE ARE WINNERS -- he's the LOSER!! Now SHUT THOSE DOORS!!

Be Care Little Mind What You Think

Yesterday I blogged about what we see and hear, but to make the subject complete, our little minds could use a filter so the negativity can't enter!

Remember the story of Chicken Little? Chicken little was having a great day -- walking in the woods, looking at the trees, smelling the flowers and listening to the birds singing. Then an acorn fell from a tree, and hit the top of her little head. "My, oh, my, the sky is falling! I must run and tell the lion about it," - says Chicken Little and begins to run. And, so the story goes,,,,

Proverbs 4:23 says "Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life." Isn't that so true? From just an acorn, Chicken Little thought the world was coming to an end. And, we, too, can be having an absolutely fabulous day, but then we can think ourselves into nausea from a little something that was planted in our head about a friend who spoke adversely about us or the new pain we just felt, or the employer who doesn't seem to notice the positive things we are doing for our company.

We can even read the paper or watch the evening news and get worked up because of the negative report on the heat wave coming through or the outbreak of mosquitoes or that utility rates are going to go up. Or that yet another food product has potential life-threatening ingredients.

At this point, we need to make a choice. "Am I going to keep a list of these negative thoughts?" We can. Or we can do something else. We can catch those thoughts. We can recognize the enemy who is placing those thoughts in our heads. We can turn those thoughts inside out because God has given us the ability to cancel out those thoughts and turn them into thoughts like "I am strong. I'm accepted. I have an assignment to fulfill. I am able. Whatever God has called me to do, I will get it done. God is for me and who can be against me? No one! I am fearfully and wonderfully made and that means I am beautiful. God holds my todays and tomorrows, so why should I worry or fret?

Guard Your Mind

Our minds are like a computer. What we put in, is what comes out. On a daily basis we input data, type emails, letters, and use our graphics software to help us make impressive powerpoints and presentations on our computers. We download photos and images. In my case, lots of photos and images. The memory in our computer continues to take in more and more, but eventually, the memory gets filled to capacity, resulting in slowing down its performance.

Yesterday, a friend of mine said, after she couldn’t remember the name of someone, “I hate growing old!” While “maturing” may be attributed to memory loss, I would like to suggest that our memory bank just gets overloaded -- just like our computers. Think of all our minds have consumed all the years of our lifetime. No wonder we have trouble finding where we left our keys or remembering that person’s name.

Our minds are special gifts from God. Our minds can potentially store 100 trillion thoughts. Now that’s what I call an “expanded” memory bank. And it is a tool that God wants to use in fulfilling His purposes for our lives.

That’s why we have to be choosy. We have to control what -- or who we allow into our minds. What’s true of computers is true with humans -- garbage in, garbage out.

Proverbs 4:23 says “More than anything, guard and protect your mind, for life flows from it.”

One of my greatest “aha” moments came when I realized that I can choose my thoughts and think things on purpose. Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”

Maybe your mind has been bombarded with bad news -- something that was such bad news that you became sick to your stomach. I've been there. I had choices to make. Allow those negative, fearful and crippling thoughts to shut me down, or REBOOT. Like the most high tech, leading edge computer that needs to be rebooted when there is a conflict inside, so do we. That same computer can be infected with a virus, and our computer needs to be scanned and cleaned out. So do we. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to come in and remove the doubt, fear and unbelief. I think that’s why God urges us to take one day a week to “recharge”, rest, and go for a charge up at the battery station. Maybe that’s our church, our parish, our place of plugging into the CENTRAL CHARGER.

We put up fences around our homes to keep the pets and children in and the varmints out. Literally we need to put fences around our minds that keep the good, beautiful and pleasant thoughts in and keeps the junk, negativity, fear, evil reports out. We control the doorway to who we allow in our homes. We need to do the same thing with our minds. We can dwell on the negative, think about it, mull it over, and complain about it OR we can do what any great computer can do.....WE CAN DELETE IT.

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You" . Isaiah 26:3