The Heart
Above all else, we are called to guard our heart (Proverbs 4:23).
If our heart is the centre of all we are, the innermost part of us which God Himself indwells by His Spirit when we belong to Him (Ephesians 3:16-17), the safeguarding of this place within us is to be above all else, Proverbs tells us.
It is to be first and most important in all of the choices we make affecting our lives.
So often I am faced by decisions that are not in themselves right or wrong. I could go one way or the other and neither path would be wrong before God, or in other words, sinful.
As I sit with the decision though, thinking of pressing ahead, something inside is amiss. Unsettled. Just ever so slightly.
I think about it some more, pray, and the answer comes. It is not that the path itself would be wrong, it is that it would lead in some way to compromise in my intimacy with God.
There is something in the outcome that would, for me, undermine, cloud, or get in the way of that place of complete surrender in my relationship with Him. That place of abandon with God. Of communion with Him, where you know you are abiding in Him, dwelling in the fullness of His presence and grace. It is a powerful place. A joyful place. A place of true freedom and true contentment.
And so God instructs me to guard my heart. To protect the seat of my thoughts, emotions, affections and will. To protect myself from an outcome that would compromise in any way that life-giving union with Him and His Lordship. The narrow path.
It is the pure in heart that see God, Jesus said (Matthew 5:8). May this vision of Him not be skewed by choices that compromise.
‘Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life’ Proverbs 4:23.
B, thank you for being obedient to the spirit and emailing to let me know you have written a new post. It seems like they are always so on time for me! It was confirmation for something I was about to do today that wouldn’t in itself have been a sin but that would definitely impact my peace and spirit negatively.
Paul says that everything is allowed yet everything is not beneficial/productive. I am learning that things don’t necessarily have to be “sin” to harm us; like you said if they interfere in our ability to see, hear, respond to and obey God they are inadvertently going to impact our peace as His Word says that the peace of God that surpasses all understanding shall guard our HEARTS and MINDS through Christ Jesus. If our hearts are clouded, unclean, preoccupied etc. we are closing filters for His peace to flow freely through.
Lots of love to you always.
XO
Hi G, wow, I’m amazed at God’s timing with this. That He confirmed the choice He wanted for you today, that would keep you in His perfect peace. He is so good! I very much relate, choices don’t have to be sinful for the outcome to rob us of that settled freedom in Him, I find. I’m learning so much about how precious our ‘confidence’ in Him is – the confidence of what Christ has done for us on the Cross, and also because we choose not to grieve Him (Eph.4:30).
It’s a really good point you make, the reminder of 1 Cor.6:12, that all things may be permissable but not all are beneficial.
Lots of love to you too, and I LOVE your new avatar – just beautiful! Bless you friend :) xo
Hi my lovely Birgit
I am confronted every day with where I assemble my treasures. This is such an intimate journey only between ourselves and God, with the only reliable heart in that equation being the latter. He loves and He cares and sendt the Spirit to be my guide!
How you described facing decisions that are not necessarily right or wrong also reminded me how we so easily judge others if their actions does not fall with the tradisional way of following our Master… May we not judge but love, not blame but obey.
The battle really is lost and won and the heart. I too find it is the small things, but very often the small sins: allowing bitterness to take hold just for a moment or dwelling on resentment for an instant, that opens the door of our hearts to the enemy… So yes how very important to protect our hearts with all our might, if we are to be victorious christians.
Hi Desiré :) I really like what you say here about the Spirit of God being our guide in all things, and that He is always faithful, even when we are not.
It’s so true what you say about loving, and believing the best in others as we each seek to pursue God, and His will. We have such a privilege in praying for one another in this pursuit, and ultimately, such reassurance in the Great Shepherd Who tends to, protects and guides those in His care.
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Rain, thanks so much for your thoughts here, I very much relate. Although sometimes I find myself confronting sin that seems very daunting, for the most part, I also find it’s the these small everyday choices you describe here – it reminds me of that saying, flies in the ointment. And yes, it’s so true how these can give a foothold to the enemy, and prevent the joy and peace of God’s Spirit in our lives. I love your conclusion about protecting our hearts with “all our might” – it truly is a battle isn’t it? I so aspire to constancy in intimacy with Him. Lots of love and blessings to you :)