How is your heart?
Have you done a heart check lately?
What is going on it there?
Are you mad at anybody?
Are you upset or resentful about something?
God tells us:
"Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life."
Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
If you do not understand what is meant by "the wellspring of life" It might help to read the Living Bible translation.
..."guard your affections for they influence everthing else in your life."
God is telling us that it is most important to guard and protect our heart because how our heart feels will influence everything in our life.
God is giving you a job - He instructs you to GUARD your heart. Do it with diligence. Diligence means to do it with everything you have, all your might, to give it your number one attention.
You may by asking "Why is it so important to guard my heart?"
If your heart is messed up your whole life will get messed up. If you let what other people do upset you and make you angry than you will be miserable. When you do not forgive others you hurt yourself more that you do anyone else. Anger, bitterness, hurt feelings, resentfulness, stife, and being offended will hinder you from being joyful and it will hinder your prayer life. There are lots of problems that are caused just from being angry and upset and not knowing when to let go of things that might upset you.
Jesus died for us to have everlasting life in heaven. Jesus also died so that we can live our life in joy, and victory. He wants us to enjoy the journey here on earth. I think it is very sad for Jesus to pay the high price He paid for His children, and then He sees us being miserable, and saying. "I am just trying to make it until Jesus returns."
It is important for our health
and well being to have a great attitude about life. We have a wonderful influence on other people when they see that we are happy, joyful, peaceful, and living a blessed and victorious life. They will want to know what we have that makes us so happy. We can preach, and preach and preach; but if our lifes do not back up what we preach then it is just words. If our life is not an example of Jesus Christ then we are no different than anybody else. Jesus told us:
"Blessed are the pure in heart
for they will see God."
Matthew 5:8 (NIV)
Trusting God means we do not have to ask why something happens to us.
When we trust God we will have peace in our life. When we learn to forgive others and not get offended we will be walking in forgiveness.
MAKE A CHOICE TO TRUST GOD. When you get your attitude worked out God will have good things work out for the best in your life.
Paul wrote the Philippians: CLICK HERE to learn how to walk in forgiveness from Princess Turquoise
In life you will have many opportunities to get your feelings hurt. There are many things that happened that seem unfair. This can cause us to become angry. Sometimes people even become angry with God, because they do not understand why something bad has happened to them.
"Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4: 5-7
This lesson was inspired from Joyce Meyer's Conference Tour in St. Paul, MN. Televised on May 14, 2008.