What is the condition of your heart?
We have developed a filter system - we don't normally say all the things we think - yet even the best filter can't catch everything. Haven't you slipped and said things you wished you hadn't? In the sermon on the mount Jesus recommends that we go beyond the filters or rules of life. We go to the very thoughts within us.
In the midst of speaking about what is clean and unclean ceremonially Jesus threw a bomb at the religious leaders. He told them that filth comes from the heart not the body or food.
Matthew 15:17-20 - 17 "Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.'"
Solomon, the wisest man ever said;
Proverbs 4:23 - Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
What are some methods you have used to guard your heart? I need some help - this might be the subject of some Daily Messages soon.
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When Quoting Scripture Inflicts Harm
6 years ago
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I don't believe any method is going to 100% effectively guard my heart - only Jesus can do that. I've found the following helpful:
"Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'" (Matthew 26:39) In his full humanity, Jesus prayed that He wouldn't have to go to the cross. He was, as a man, so conflicted, that the tension caused his blood vessels to rupture, and he sweated blood. (Luke 22:44) However, being God, He rejected the self-will shown by Adam and Eve and their descendants, refused escape to a normal human life, and accepted His Father's will. As a man, he died to self and took up his cross. This is the only true method; there is no other.
Nevertheless, the Word does give wisdom and practical advice on dealing with an errant heart.
1. "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise." (Proverbs 10:19)
Given this proverb and what James says about the tongue (James 3:3-12), the best course of action to curb sinful words that issue from our heart is, simply, to say nothing at all. Keep Pandora's box closed, and nothing nasty can escape. The nastiness is still there, of course, but no one else need suffer from it.
2. "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." When the issues of the heart defile, talk to someone about it, so that they can pray for you. Accountability and support help a lot.
3. "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9) Don't entertain the thought that the heart is fixed and can now be taken for granted. Such naivete leads to disaster and a real mess to try to clean up. I sleep with the enemy, and the enemy is me.
4. "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." (I Cor. 9:25-27) One way to guard the heart is to maintain the attitude of being in training; such focus makes it difficult to yield to the desires of the sinful heart. If you've ever trained for a sporting event or tried to lose weight and maintain the weight loss...you know this is hard. You must will this one thing and not give up.
5. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - which is your spiritual worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:1-2) Become a living sacrifice: relinquish your life to the Creator, take up your cross, digest His Words, and change your thinking.
6. "Dear friends, now we are the children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure." Look for the return of our Lord and Savior; make it a continual expectation and hope.
Pastor Ray;
Being that I travel a lot for work, it is important I keep myself busy to guard my heart against all the temptations out there that are available to men in particular.
My first order of business when I get into a new location, is to find a church. That is a MUST for me.
The one thing that has been a real blessing to me is my music. I got started with acoustic guitar (having played electric for ever) while on a business trip back in 1999. I use my alone time to play music, and try and worship the Lord playing my guitar in my hotel room, and other venues when opportunities present themselves.
I also stay in contact with friends back home that are Christians and who will hold me accountable. Not being a very social person to begin with, my circle of friends is a small but tight group of good men who love the Lord and whom i serve with back home. Many of them travel as well so we all are aware of what disaster lurks if we allow our hearts to stray.
My wife (God bless that woman) sends me CD's of our (new) pastor's sermons every couple of weeks. I also try and get a handful of Tabletalk devotions to bring along, and I as a side hobby of sorts, have been studying Mormon history as I have spent the past 10 years or so travelling to Utah where Mormonism is obviously very prevelant. That is another discussion there, but that is for another venue! :-) I have had some cery interesting discussion with Mormons as one can imagine.
I also am mindful of what I watch on TV! That can be a real challenge at times. I am not thrilled to have HBO in my hotel room so I surf past as quickly as possible.
I think the biggest thing to do is to feed our hearts and souls with the Word (another item I am not as dedicated to as i should be). I tend to do the devotionals, but then get lazy and do not spend much time just being in the Word like I know i should. I cannot figure that out either as when i read the Word, it is ALWAYS exciting and I always learn something new and always come away lifted up, yet I am a slacker and just do not stay in the word as much as I know I need to be!
Mike Fred
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