Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (Prov. 4:23 NLT)

Did you realize that the state of your heart determines the course of your life? That means your life today, including spiritual, health, relationships, career, etc, is a reflection of your what your heart was like yesterday and what it has been today. If this is true, which indeed it is, as the Word of God is truth, then we should pay very attention to our hearts.

The term heart in the Bible is used of both the spirit and the soul of man. The main exhortation of the verse above is to guard your heart, by watching what gets into it and stays there. The condition of your spirit is critical. I usually picture the human heart as a room, where you can find the virtues of life such as love and patients as well as the vices such as anger and slothfulness that are eventually seen outwardly in a man’s life. Imagine a living room with items that could be likened to love, patience, kindness, hard work, diligence, humility etc. That is a good heart. Imagine another room representing a wicked heart having items in it as hatred, bitterness, theft, jealousy, gossip, anger etc laying all over the place. As a believer, we have a good heart. Our responsibility is to watch jealously so as to avoid these any wicked vices from ENTERING and/or STAYING in our hearts. A believer who harbors pride, bitterness, unforgiveness is like a room with both clean and dirty items laying side by side. Imagine your living room with your flat screen TV, clean leather sofas but also having dirty dishes or even soiled diapers all over the place! This is how a heart with both good and bad qualities looks like.

The state of your heart will determine the spiritual atmosphere around you. Bitterness, sorrow, and grieve will erode your health and attract bitter things to your life. A dark heart will lead to a dark life. A merry heart will do good to your body like medicine. A peaceful heart will cause the circumstances of your life to be full of peace. A joyous spirit will show up in your relationships, career, spiritual life, finances etc. Your heart determines your life. Ever been around someone who seems to carry such a negative and gloomy atmosphere around them? Or people you get around and you end up feeling depressed? Some people might be asking themselves why negative things always seem to follow them. If only they will look and see what is in their hearts. Do not allow people or circumstances around you to sow unwanted elements in your heart. Guard your heart jealously.

MEDITATE

The Word in your mind and mouth (1 Tim 4:15; Josh 1: 8)

Carefully consider what the verse above says and think about it. That your life is determined by your heart.  Then declare that you are keeping your heart today from every potential intrusion from the events and people you encounter today

PRAY

Water the Seed (word) to grow. Invite the Spirit’s strength! (Isa 32:15; Zach 4:6)

Ask the Father to give you the ability to rid your heart of any negative items that might have been there. It is a self-deception to keep a dirty heart and expect a clean life.  Pray for the grace to guard your heart jealously today.

APPLY THE WORD TODAY!

Your door to a blessed life today is doing God’s Word. Refuse to be a hearer or reader only! (James 1:22-26)

Do something about the word above. Refuse to allow any bitter person around you deposit their bitterness in you. Choose to rid your heart of any anger, fear, pride, or whatever the Spirit shows you do not have to be there.

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