A Guarded Heart

Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.

Think for a moment about the things that you guard your heart from and why you do it. As humans, there's something within us that causes us to constantly defend ourselves. So often we shut out things in our lives to protect ourselves from harm, disappointment, or failure. Because we fear being broken down by certain things in life, many of shut out even the good things that were intended to build us up. Here in God's word, it's made clear that guarding our hearts is essential in our lives. But just what are we supposed to guard our hearts from, and how? God's word also tells us that everything we do flows from our heart, so we want to let our guard down for something that will flow into our lives in a positive way. If we let our guard down for the destructive things of this world, we find that negative influences flow strongly into our lives. However, if we let our guard down for the greatness of God to flood in, positive, sustaining and uplifting influences overflow into our lives. And as the goodness of God overwhelms us, that same uncontainable goodness overflows out into our day-to-day actions, filling our lives with an incredible sense of satisfaction. When we let our guard down for God, our defenses are raised against the world so that no darkness can enter our newly light filled lives. As we are vulnerable to God but guarded against the world, that's when we find ourselves our most secure.

Open up to God about what you guard yourself from and why you do it. If you find that it's God your shutting out in your life, be honest with Him about why you do that and how it's affecting you. If you feel God leading you, let down your guard and allow Him to flow into your heart. Ask Him to guide you to always guard your heart from the darkness, but to always be open to Him. Once you do so, you'll find yourself incredibly satisfied and secure.

I pray that your security in Christ empowers you to live today with a boldness only found in Christ. I hope everyone has a wonderful Day!

Madelynn