Daily Journal: 19 March

Guard Your Heart

There are many times in life, in many ways, that we try and tell each other who we think they are, what we think they ought to be, what we think they ought to feel, how we think they ought to behave.

But we need to go back to our own checklist.

Who does God say we are? What does God think we ought to do? How does God say we ought to behave when we feel what we feel? We are told in scripture that the Holy Spirit produces fruit in us, which directs our feelings and our actions when we have a heart after Him.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

While we learn to control our natural tendencies the bible also cautions us to guard our heart and our mind in Christ. They work in tandem when we're seeking God's will in any situation.

Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Philippians 4:7 (NIV)

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We can listen to the thoughts and feelings of others, we can listen to our own thoughts, but if either is detrimental to our peace of mind and works against the fruit of the Holy Spirit in us, it’s not right for us to do.

Romans 14:17-18 (NIV)

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

Isn’t it amazing how God has put pauses and checks in place for us to mark our way? Be assured in that knowledge today.