Word Devotion: July 10, 2014 - Proverbs 4:23 RESPOND, DO NOT REACT (from Chris Tiegreen, Walk With God) Our hearts, the wellspring of our lives, are given free reign by most of us. We are under the illusion that we cannot help how we feel; our emotions are considered the foundation of who we are. And as our feelings rise and fall as often as the wind changes direction, so does our life. We are guided by feelings far more often that we would like to think. WE MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON FEELINGS AND THEN RATIONALIZE THEM AWAY, RATHER THAN MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON RATIONALITY AND LETTING THE FEELINGS FALL IN BEHIND. We let our emotions define us. It is a dangerous way to live. Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. David could testify to that. His extraordinarily Godward heart usually led him into the Fathers will. But it also led him into temptation and a sin with catastrophic results. Even his heart, so often in sync with Gods was, fickle. AND FICKLE HEARTS PRODUCE MISDIRECTED PEOPLE. We think when we turn our hearts over to God, that He governs us and shapes us automatically. That is not what inspired Scripture says in Proverbs 4:23. Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. THIS IS A COMMAND. We are to guard our hearts. We are to be careful about what we let into them. Our hearts cannot be an open door to unbiblical and ungodly influences. We are not to be captive to them; they are to be captive to the Word of God. We are given the responsibility of being vigilant about their content. WE CAN GUARD OUR HEARTS. WE MUST GUARD OUR HEARTS. WE WILL GUARD OUR HEARTS AS WE LOVE JESUS IN ALL THAT HE HAS MEANT TO BE LOVED BY US. Application: Does your heart ride along with your feelings like an anchorless ship on the waves? Is it subject to deep swells and rapidly changing courses? If so, finding direction from God may be a challenge. YOU MAY BE WAITING FOR HIM TO SHAPE YOUR HEART, WHILE HE IS WAITING FOR YOU TO GUARD IT. He will do His part, BUT ONLY YOU CAN DO YOURS. The wisdom of Proverbs makes your vigilance the highest priority: ABOVE ALL ELSE. That is the attention we are to give to our emotional swells. It is paramount. Be on guard. Respond. Do not react. Prayer: Lord Jesus, I surrender all of my emotional life as I commit to guard by Your Word my heart and my life. When emotions rise, I commit to see You above them no matter what. I will wait when the going is unclear. I will be brave when the going is daunting. I will exercise self-control when the going is stormy inside and outside. I will choose to rejoice because You are with me at all times, good and bad, difficult and rewarding. All glory to You, O Lord.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Jul 2014 15:10:57 +0000
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