Guarding your heart.

Written by Lee Stevenson, sorry I am not the best editor.

We guard our hearts by knowing what God would want us to do and put it first. We cannot please man and God. We can deceive others, maybe even ourselves but God can read our hearts and knows our true intentions. This is why the bible tells us not to lean on our own understanding. It is also why the bible tells us not to trust our hearts because it is deceptive and desperate.

Because we are imperfect we need to learn what the will of God is and put his laws in our hearts and let him guide us. We write his word on our hearts be obeying it and letting it guide all we do even in the little things such as choosing friends. When the bible tells us bad associations ruin useful habits do we scoff at the scripture and mock God, or do you write it on our hearts and let him teach us how to choose our friends?

As we learn what Gods word it will expose our short comings. Instead of hardening our hearts we need to let Jehovah’s word guide us on over coming our err. If we have made errors his word gives us instructions on what we should do to set things straight. The bible tells us it is sharper then any two edged sword able to judge the attitude of the heart. So when we read God”s word it will reveal things we may need to work on. If we share God’s word with someone, the way they react can tell us their heart condition. If we have friends who are lax when it comes to certain scriptures because they seem minor then we may want to be careful. Remember the bible said those who are disobedient in the least is disobedient in the most. This is because those little things get us to drop our guard and often times is used by Satan and his angels of light to draw people away from pure worship.

We must guard our heart by putting God’s word in them and even paying heed to scriptures that may seem like little things. If we get involved in gossip, criticizing or making fun of people, or talking negatively about people it can damage our relationship with God and harden our hearts. We need to watch what we speak about because we could start developing a bad heart.

We need to keep in mind Jesus is king in heaven right now. When we make friends or discuss things with others we should think would Jesus think or behave this way. Would Jesus have this person as a friend or associate? We should ask ourselves what would Jesus want me to do?

The little things leave the door open for Satan. For example if we get angry easy and hold onto anger instead of forgiving others like the bible tells us to, it could harden our hearts and make them non receptive to bible truths. If someone shares a teaching different then what we have been taught do we research our bible to make certain of what we heard is true and what we believe or what someone else has just taught you is true? If you react angrily, try to shame someone or even try to find their flaws when they show you something in the bible that is not what you were taught to believe, this is telling you something because Jesus and the apostle never acted this way when challenged. They used God’s word to prove what they believed. Those who refuse to listen to Jesus or look to see if what he was saying was true but held onto their false beliefs were spiritually blind and deaf. This led to them eventually torturing and killing Jesus. The bible tells us some have entertained angels and did not know it. What if it was an angel and God sent them to show you bible truths and you reacted in such a way? The bible tells us to look at God’s word and verify all we have heard. Many do not study the bible because they said it contradicts itself. It does not contradict itself it is the false teachings that are rampant in the world making the bible appear to contradict itself.

Proverbs 21:10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

1Samuel 16:But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Ecclesiastes 12:The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

1Chronicles 28:9 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

Ephesians 6:6 Not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

Hebrews 4: 12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Ephesians 5:13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.” 15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
We have to remember God knows our true motives.

Proverbs 2:2All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.

Proverns 4:20My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
23Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
We also need to speak to God in prayer to guard our hearts.

Philipians 4:Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
If we get caught up with the things of the world and the thongs incthe world we lose our ability to discern what Gods will is. We should apways test and meditate what Gods will is.

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Luke 6:45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Collossian 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
We all sin so we must continue to read and apply Gods word so we can continue to grow.

1John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Our hearts are very deceptive so we should never trust it to guide us but remember to put Gods word in our hearts and let it guide us.
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
We must seek God with our whole hearts. So we must trust him completely then you will know him.

Jeremiah 29:13You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Psalm 119:11 have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
If we want to be kept safe in these last days we cannot trust our own thoughts but let God guide us.

Proverbs 28:26Those who trust in themselves are fools,
but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
God will blesscus if we learn to fully trust him to guide our hearts.

Paslms 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Proverbs 28:26 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.