Heart

The Heart

  • The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it
    Jeremiah 17:9
  • Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23

Vigilance is defined as the action or state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties. That’s exactly what God calls us to do with our hearts. We are to pay extra attention to our hearts and watch them closely. There will be dangers and difficulties we will for sure face in this life, and we should be ready.
This is a very, very serious matter, we are told

  • Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
    I Corinthians 5:6

Therefore we need to take great care. I have enumerated a few ways in which we can do this:

1-‘I owe me’

Luke 12:15 – Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

  • Protect your heart from greed

2-‘You owe me’

Ephesians 4:26 – Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

  • Protect your heart from anger

3- ‘God owes me’

James 4:1 – From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

  • Protect your hear from jealousy

4- Guilt

I John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

James 5:16 – Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

  • We need to protect our heart from guilt
  • We need to confess our faults to God and to men

5- Incoming data

Matthew 15:18 – But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man
Protect it from everything that comes in, we must therefore:

  • watch what are we listening to
  • watch what are we watching
  • we must train your eyes to look away from lust
  • listen to wisdom instead of folly

6-Consistency

I Corinthians 4:2 – Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful
Persevere in the face of difficulties by:

  • reading the Bible
  • praying consistently
  • sharing the Gospel with others
  • spending time in solitude with the Lord

7-Follow what the Lord is leading you to do

  • if you don’t follow your calling you put undue strain on your heart

8-Cultivate an atmosphere of community

Psalm 133:1 – Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

  • we are part of a body
  • we need people
  • no man is an island

9-Keep priorities high and do not compromise

Luke 12:29-31 – And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

  • priorities should dictate the day ( not the day dictates our priorities)
  • once you make a little compromise here or there, you begin to add toxicity to your heart
  • the good news is that if you keep them, your heart will grow in wisdom

10-Trust God with the rest

Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

  • we run around like crazy, we often forget this is bad for our hearts. We are also telling God we don’t trust Him in the process
  • when we rest in the Lord we are declaring our dependency on Him

11-Preach the gospel to yourself each day

2 Peter 1:12 – Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

  • the second we take our eyes off of the cross we forget who we really are.
  • Our hearts need to be reminded that while we still sin, we are forgiven, redeemed, and are children of God!

12-Your heart is the source of everything you do

Proverbs 16:21-22 – The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.Understanding [is] a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools [is] folly.

  • King Solomon says it is the “wellspring that he is of life.” In other words, it is the source of everything else in your life. Your heart overflows into thoughts, words, and actions.
  • If your heart is unhealthy, it has an impact on everything else. It threatens your family, your friends, your ministry, your career, and, indeed, your legacy. It is, therefore, imperative that you guard it

13-Because your heart is under constant attack

Psalm 51:10 – Create in me a pure heart, O God,and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

  • when Solomon says to guard your heart, he implies that you are living in a combat zone; one in which there are casualties. Many of us are oblivious to the reality of this war. We have an enemy who is bent on our destruction. He not only opposes God, but he opposes everything that is aligned with Him—including us.

14-Refuse to take offenses, hold a grudge or to hate

It is proved medically that it can cause the following

  • mental and health problems
  • cardiovascular problems
  • cancer

We must learn to forgive. I don’t care what the offender did

15-The heart needs regular cleaning

Psalm 66:18 – If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

  • We need to be able to hear from God.

16-Your heart is extremely valuable

  • it is the essence of who you are. It is your authentic self—the core of your being. It is where all your dreams, your desires, and your passions live. It is that part of you that connects with God and other people

17-Guard the fire of devotion in your heart

  • This is the most fundamental discipline in your life
  • Refuse to accept a faith experience that is below what God intended for you

18- Your heart needs to be free to worship and to hear the Rhema word

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