Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Guard your heart

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (Proverbs 4:23 NLT) 
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23 NIV) 

Search me, O God, and know my heart... (Psalm 139:23 NLT) 

Well it's Valentines Day and love has been in the air all week:) 

I'm always amazed at the buildup surrounding this holiday. Cards, flowers,  balloons, jewelry and chocolate surround you at every turn as people seek to express their "love" to those special to them. While I celebrate the holiday and appreciate what it stands for, it's always interesting to observe the impact (good and bad) this ONE day has on people. 
Weddings and engagement celebrations wait all year for this day. 
Singles either drown in lonely feelings or scramble for a date for the sake of just having "someone". 
Lovers await what surprises are in store, often finding themselves disappointed as their expectations aren't met. 
Those that despise this commercial man-made holiday go to great lengths to show their "Anti V Day" by wearing black and rolling their eyes as flowers overtake their office spaces.  
People just get in a tizzy. I know these people AND I've even been these people at different points in my life.  Feb 14th is a day where most people lay their heart on the line. So as all the attention has been focused on our "hearts" these past few weeks, I couldn't help but think about what God has to say about matters of the heart. 

Proverbs 4:23  tells us to "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."   
Guard:  to protect from harm, to watch over so as to prevent escape or violence, to maintain control over, as to prevent indiscretion, to supervise ENTRY or exit through.

We often experience heartbreak at the hands of a failed relationship, family betrayal, broken promises or unmet expectations. We let our guards down and allow others entry into our most prized possession, the heart, leaving us open and vulnerable to hurt. Over and over we leave the gates to our heart swinging wide open, allowing wrong thoughts, actions and people to infiltrate what God has clearly deemed precious. 
God thinks our hearts are so special that he wants them guarded and protected above all else. The words ABOVE ALL else have always stood out to me. He means this should be a priority in our life, this supersedes anything else we have going on, this should be at the top of our to-do list. Since "everything you do" flows from the heart, it's important to have it in tip top condition.    
If you allow fear in your heart then all your decisions: who you love, how you treat people, your daily mood, etc will all flow from a foundation of fear, having a negative impact on your life. If you want "good" outcomes in your life, you must have "good" in your heart. It's often said "you are what you eat", well I'm learning it's the same with our hearts. We are what we put in our hearts. So we have to take careful action to watch over who we allow to speak into our hearts, what we allow our hearts to be connected to and take observation as to how that is affecting our everyday life. Our hearts should be whole, pure, healthy, wise, steady and full of love so that our life will possess the same traits. God created our hearts for a special reason and it's our job to protect it. 
Every day, not just Feb 14th, should be a day that we celebrate love. As we do, lets make sure we are taking extra care of our hearts, for it is the very thing that God is most concerned with.  

Pray and seek God on what changes you may need to make with matters of the heart. Ask him to show you what should be allowed in your heart and perhaps what you need to purge so that you can stay on the right course for your life.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Indescribable


Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It 
is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices 
whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures 
through every circumstance.
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 
(1 Corinthians 13: 4-7,13 NLT) 


 
"Indescribable, uncontainable, you placed the stars in the sky and you know them by name
You are amazing, God

Incomparable, unchangeable, you see the depths of my heart and you love me the same
You are amazing, God”

(Lyrics from "Indescribable" originally written by Chris Tomlin)

 
Indescribable: beyond description; too intense, extreme for words


1 Cor: 13 has always been my favorite passage in the bible. Over the years this 
passage has come to life for me as I've felt and seen Gods love for me at work 
in my life. 


Love is PATIENT: for all the years I spent outside his will, he patiently waited for
my return and welcomed me back with open arms.
Love is KIND: despite my selfish ways , he continues to give me favor and pour 
out blessings in my life
Love KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONG: when I'm trapped in guilt because of my 
sins, I only need to remember the blood of Jesus has set me free
Love NEVER GIVES UP: when I turn my back on him, he continues to pursue 
and chase me down with his love
Love is always HOPEFUL: when my fears threaten to consume me, I remind 
myself of the perfect plans he has already designed for me

Gods love is truly amazing. No words will ever be able to describe it. 
What does his love mean to you? How has it changed your life? 
Would love to hear from you:)
I've posted my favorite version of "Indescribable" below.