Tag: heart

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Beginning to Forever, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study

A Surrendered Heart

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, From the Beginning to Forever/w4d1

Read: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 and Soap verse 7; For Further Reading: 1 Samuel 8:4-9

Do you have a “Saul” who or that you are mourning? What I mean is, is there a person, place, or thing – or perhaps a dream or hope that hasn’t happened or was taken away- holding you captive or back from moving on? Scripture reveals to us that Samuel did. Verse 35 of 1 Samuel 15 tells the story of Saul’s disobedience to God, and how, “Until the day he died, Samuel did not see Saul again. Samuel did, however, mourn for Saul, but the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.”

Until the day he died, Samuel did not see Saul again. Samuel did, however, mourn for Saul, but the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

1 Samuel 15:35

If you’ve never watched or prayed and waited with parents mourning their child’s decision to turn away from God, it is hard to understand the devastation and personal responsibility they feel and the sorrow it induces. It is an awful thing that either drives them to despair and/or to their knees. Much as a parent mourns their child wandering away from God’s path, Samuel mourned for Saul’s persistent disobedience and ultimately God’s rejection of him as king. On top of that, Samuel had devoted time and service to Saul and the calling on his life, so understandably, Saul’s failure and the Lord’s rejection of him were likely a personal disappointment and defeat for Samuel as well, possibly believing that he had failed Saul. Thus, the Lord’s question and command to Samuel that we find in our journey today:

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long do you intend to mourn for Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your horn with olive oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem, for I have selected a king for myself from among his sons.”

1 Samuel 16:1 NET (KJV Version)

Having had time to mourn, God was now calling Samuel to stop mourning and “go” to the one He had selected as king in Saul’s place. Fear was Samuel’s next obstacle, as he was concerned that if he did as the Lord asked, Saul would hear about it and kill him. The Lord answered his concern, and Samuel did as the Lord told him. God’s assurance moved Samuel past his mourning and fear to obedience to God’s calling. From that obedience, Samuel meets Jesse and his sons, including David, who would one day be the successor of Saul, and the ‘root’ from which Jesus, our Rescuer, would come. Samuel assessed the brothers, beginning with Eliab, the oldest, and continuing through to the youngest. Ultimately, he chose David, the shepherd boy, the one whom God had told him to anoint, rather than the oldest, who looked more like a king. Why? Because Samuel had listened to God, who looks at the heart rather than appearance

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

As today’s journal entry by LGG reminds us, Saul looked the part on the outside, but outward appearances don’t always match what’s on the inside. Saul was more concerned with what people thought of him than with pleasing God, so God chose a different king, a young shepherd boy named David. David was anything but kingly according to his outward appearance. But he had something that Saul did not, a heart that wanted to live for God. So God raised David to be the greatest earthly King of Israel, not because David was perfect, but because he was surrendered to God.1

Friends, if you are stuck in a place of mourning or regret, fear or disobedience, disappointment, or waiting… let me ask you – “How long do you continue to stay there?” Samuel was led to David, the true and future King of Israel when he left his mourning behind and followed where God led him. Let’s ask God to search our hearts, know our thoughts, and reveal anything holding us back from His mission/desire for us. Let’s humbly and faithfully surrender to Him daily, choosing His way over our own. 💜 🙌

The More We Know

Do you know the One who looks at the heart? If not, I invite you to check out the “Know These Truths” link below:

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/
  1. From the Beginning to Forever, Love God Greatly Journal, p 121 ↩︎
Posted in Abide, Abiding in jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

Mind, Heart, and Habit

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based on the LGG Study, Abiding in Jesus, w3d4

Read and Soap: Psalm 119:15-16

 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Psalm 119:15-16 KJV and almost word for word ESV

A personal and intimate relationship with God doesn’t just magically happen. As with any good relationship, it requires personal commitment and an investment of time on our part. The psalmist breaks it down with three emphatic statements: 1) “I will meditate on Your precepts and focus on Your behavior. 2) I will delight in your statutes. 3) I will not forget Your instructions.” As Pastor and Bible teacher, David Guzik says in his commentary on Psalm 119:9-16,1 “The psalmist challenges us to commit to God’s Word in mind, heart, and habit.” In other words, let His Word dwell in your mind, reign in your heart, and be the habit of your life.

Challenge yourself to commit to God’s Word – in mind, heart, and habit.

David Guzik

Friends, if we want a relationship with God that is more than mundane, then I believe we must “emphatically2 choose to rise up and meet the challenge. We must commit to meditate3 on His Word, let it dwell in our hearts, and guide our habits. To be clear, meditation is more than a simple act of reading the Word; it is the practice of focusing our mind on God and His Word. It is training our thoughts and activities around His Word. It is dwelling in and on it and letting it dwell in us. This kind of focus keeps us mindful of the Word in every part of life, ensuring that we do not forget what God has told us about Himself and what He expects from us, and keeping us alert to the enemy.

The More We Know

Posted in Bible study, For Such A Time As This

Accumulating Lasting Treasures

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based on the study, For Such A Time As This, by Love God Greatly: w1d1

Scripture Road Map: Esther 1:1-8 and Matthew 6:19-21

SOAP: Matthew 6:19-21

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Matthew 6:19-21

We are primarily focusing on Jesus’ instructions to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven rather than on earth. However, it is worth noting a few things about the passage from Esther, namely, the king’s celebration. King Xerxes(also known as Ahasurerus) “gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. He invited all the military officers of Persia and Media, as well as the princes and nobles of the provinces.  The celebration lasted 180 days—a tremendous display of the opulent wealth of his empire and the pomp and splendor of his majesty.” While he offered up a lavish amount of food and drink for his guests the King and his treasures seemed to be the center of the celebration – as he “displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his majestic greatness for a lengthy period of time.

Earth is decaying and ruled by the king of liars and thieves. Heaven is ruled by Almighty God, it is indestructible and cannot be penetrated by thieves.

Mefromthensideout.com🦋

The picture painted by King Xerxes’ celebration is in stark contrast to the focal point of today’s journey found in Matthew 6:19-21, where we are encouraged to amass heavenly treasures. Matthew records the instructions of Jesus to His disciples to not be caught up with earthly treasures that will decay and/or be stolen. Instead, they were to be storing up treasures in Heaven, where nothing could destroy them and no one would break in and steal them. Jesus’s explanation of why this matters can be found in verse 21, where He warns that wherever our treasure is, that’s where the focus of our heart will be also.

Throughout Scripture, God instructs and invites us to come to Him – to know Him and make Him known. We are to give Him glory and honor1, to celebrate Him for who He is and what He’s done. We are to stand amazed in His presence, to worship Him, to love Him above and before all things – with all of our being. As believers, our hearts are to be His throne (1 Peter 3:15). In other words, we are to set apart (honor, regard, worship, sanctify) the Lord God in our hearts. Without question, He is to have first place in our lives (Mark 12:29-30), and we are to have no other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3).

Recently, when my mother moved to an assisted-living facility and we packed up her things, I found myself using the word ‘treasure’ a lot. I was also reminded of earthly decay as we emptied the attic. Hoping to ward off the threat of thieves, we were careful to make the house look lived in until everything had been moved out. My house has always had treasures within its walls, but it is far fuller since Mom’s move. The items would likely be meaningless to most, but to me, they are precious treasures, holding memories of people or events from the past. Some rank as antiques, while others have simply been passed down from one generation to the next. Dishes, furniture, pictures, jewelry, family Bibles, and my dad’s football helmet are among the items. While I don’t believe any of the pieces are an offense to God, Jesus’ words from our journey today are a reminder that they all fall under the category of “earthly treasures” that will decay.

Certainly, there is nothing wrong with gathering and enjoying treasures and heirlooms from my mom’s home. However, the words we find in Matthew chapter six are a good and necessary exhortation that we must be careful about what place these treasures hold in our hearts. The treasures Jesus tells us to store up are different than furniture, pictures, or other special items. Rather, “heavenly treasures,” as Bibleref.com points out, are “eternal rewards. They cannot be lost to moths, rust, thieves, or anything else. In financial terminology, they are a far better investment.” The commentary goes on to answer the question, “How did Jesus mean for His followers to store up rewards for themselves in heaven? He has spoken a few times in this Sermon on the Mount of acts God will reward. These have included being persecuted for Jesus’ sake (Matthew 5:11–12); giving to the needy in secret (Matthew 6:4), praying in secret (Matthew 6:6) and fasting without calling attention to oneself (Matthew 6:18). In short, God rewards His people when they lead lives of sincere devotion and worship to Him.2“

Friends, when our lives are centered around God, when He sits enthroned on our hearts, we become different, transformed from the inside out. Our thoughts and focus, our decisions and choices, our conversations and actions, and our treasures will all glorify and honor Him.

Mefromthensideout.com🦋
The More We Know

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Rest For Your Souls

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Do you ever feel so tired (body, mind, and soul) that you can’t think, pray, or function well? Are you carrying burdens, perhaps not just your own but those of others, that are causing you to miss out on the fullness of life that Jesus came to bring? If so, don’t lose hope! Jesus, the lover of our souls, invites us to come to Him, and He will give us rest. While Jesus is not referring necessarily to physical rest here – the Spiritual rest that He gives brings rest to body, mind, and soul, – as we lean into His teaching and realize just how humble and gentle He is1 To experience the promise of this rest, Jesus lists three actions we need to take:

  • Come … I will give you rest.
  • Take … My yoke upon you.
  • Let Me …Teach you.

-All of which means “giving Jesus control and letting Him direct our efforts.” This may not sound easy or be easy for those of us who like to be in control, but trust me when I say the benefits of “His rest” far outweigh the difficulty of letting go. When we rest in Him, we will know an awareness of His presence, unspeakable joys, freedom from the past, peace, strength, love, hope, gentleness, and so much more.

Praying the Word Back to God

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matt 11:28-30

Jesus, I come to You, out of the heaviness and weariness of life’s burdens, and seek Your promised rest. I am so grateful that You have taken my heavy yoke of sin and shame upon Yourself, and in exchange, I take Your yoke upon me – committing myself to You and Your authority, knowing You are gentle and humble at heart. Help me to yield control daily, letting direct my efforts in all things. Help me to learn from You and to live and love like You in all I do and say. – Amen!

A Song of Response

These words from an old hymn, “Out Of My Bondage, Sorrow, and Night,” came flooding my mind as I was writing my prayer. You may not be familiar with the tune, but I encourage you to read each word. I believe you will find the words paint such a beautiful picture of the rest we receive for our souls when we come to Jesus … when we take His Yoke upon us and learn from Him … when we realize how gentle and humble of heart He is … and we find ourselves delighting in His rest for our souls. I particularly love verse three; what about you?

The More We Know
Verse 1

Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
  Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
    Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of my sickness into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
    Jesus, I come to Thee!

Verse 3

Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
  Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into Thy blessed will to abide,
    Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
    Jesus, I come to Thee!

Verse 2

Out of my shameful failure and loss,
  Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
    Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storm and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
    Jesus, I come to Thee!

Verse 4

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
  Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into the joy and pleasure, Thine own,
    Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the flock Thy love doth enfold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
    Jesus, I come to Thee!

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Our God Who Pursues, Quiet Time

The House or the Heart?

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based on the LGG Study, Our God Who Pursues / w4d1

Read: Haggai 1 (SOAP 1:12-13)

When God’s people were released from Babylonian captivity, they returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. However, because of opposition from the Samaritans, the temple still lay in ruins while the people were living in houses they built for themselves with panels meant for the temple.

The people were misguided in thinking that the Samaritan opposition meant they should abandon their mission to rebuild the temple. Their decision to instead use what was meant for the Temple to build their own houses was an even bigger mistake, and God made sure they knew it (Haggai 1: 1-11).

 So – Is it wrong to live in nice houses?

While some may believe and teach that Haggai’s message was meant to infer that we are not to live in nice houses, I believe God’s true message wasn’t about their houses but rather about their hearts. They had misplaced their focus and lost sight of their mission and, in the long run, of their God. For, as Gotquestions.org points out, not only did the self-focus of God’s people involve neglecting God’s temple, but it also meant they were not worshiping in the temple as He desired.

The application for us today is that we must place God’s will above our own. In the case of the Jewish people, their self-focus involved neglecting God’s temple (and therefore worship in the temple) while focusing on their own homes. There is nothing wrong with living in a nice home, but there is something wrong with neglecting God’s priorities to pursue our own. First things first, and honoring God is more important than houses or any other material thing.

gotquestions.org

The Lord was not pleased, nor would He tolerate the people putting themselves first. However, the real problem wasn’t the houses; it was their hearts. As He had told them through the first commandment He gave to Moses, and Moses gave to them – He was a jealous God, and they were to put nothing (no other gods) before Him. There is nothing wrong with living in a nice home, but there is something wrong with neglecting God’s priorities to pursue our own. First things first, and honoring God is more important than houses or any other material thing.1

“You shall have no other gods before me. … for I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.

Exodus 20:3, 5

This was made clear to them not only through the message of Haggai but through a variety of ‘natural disasters’ that were meant to turn their focus and mission back to the true and living God. I find this to be a great reminder that the LORD does indeed pursue us and, in love, uses what it takes to get our attention. Verses twelve and thirteen reveal that the people not only listened to the message from Haggai, but they obeyed – and not as those under duress but as those who respected the Lord their God – and the Lord responded by energizing and encouraging both the leaders and the people.

Friends, we would be wise to understand that while this passage is from the Old Testament, its message still holds true for us today. We are to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and our neighbor as ourselves, which Jesus said sums up all the law and the prophets.

Food for Thought

From the LGG Journal

“The Israelites return to Jerusalem was a gift of God. Their response should have been one of praise and thanksgiving by first rebuilding the temple, yet they were focused on self.

We, too, can be like the Israelites. We ask and hope for God to deliver us from a situation or make something new or better. When He does, we forget to respond rightly in praise. We can quickly move on and serve our own desires, or we start wanting the next thing. God graciously used Haggai to call the people back to obedience, and they quickly obeyed.

Think of your own life right now. Would your lifestyle and habits indicate that your first priority is serving and worshiping God? May we not become distracted and taken off course like the Israelites. May our hearts and lives be focused on God first and foremost.”

p121/Our God Who Pursues
Prayer of Response

Father, God, we can so easily become distracted by roadblocks or our own wants and desires. Thank You for the reminder that You not only love us but pursue us and draw us back to You and Your mission/desire for our lives. Help us to remember that Your desires/mission for our lives are so much better and more important than our own. May we live lives that glorify and honor You as we live obediently to Your commands. May we not neglect to praise and worship You for who You are and what You have done in our lives. – In the Name of Jesus I pray, – amen and amen!

The More We Know
For more Insight click here for today’s Lgg Blog
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, LGG Study, Our God Who Pursues

Give Him Your Heart

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based on, Our God Who Pursues / w3d4

He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord really wants from you: He wants you to carry out justice, to love faithfulness, and to live obediently before your God.“

Micah 6:8

As we dive into chapter six of Micah, it’s important to remember that Micah has been addressing the problem God’s people were having with sin. Gotquestions.org explains that “the answer to Israel’s sin problem was not more numerous or more painful sacrifices. The answer was something much deeper than any religious observance: they needed a change of heart. Without the heart, Israel’s conformity to the Law was nothing more than hypocrisy.

While there are clearly some things God does not reveal to us in today’s passage, Micah makes it clear that God’s people, then and now, do not need to wonder about or act like they/we do not know what the Lord wants from us. He spells it out for us here and throughout Scripture so that we are without excuse.

The overall picture seems to be that God doesn’t want our hearts more than any other ‘thing’ we can offer Him.

  • We are to “carry out justice,” meaning we are to know what is right and wrong and do what is right. Gotquestions.org points out that this was particularly pointed at the judicial courts, “They had a responsibility to provide equity and protect the innocent,” The commentary goes on to say that “Injustice was a problem in Israel at that time.”
  • We are to “love mercy,” which involves “loyal love or loving-kindness,” which, as the commentary points out, “is foundational to God’s character. – This, of course, would indicate that He expects His people to show love to their fellow man and to be loyal in their love toward Him, just as He had been loyal to them.”
  • We are to “walk humbly” (aka: have a humble attitude toward God. “Instead of taking pride in what we bring to God, we humbly recognize that no amount of personal sacrifice can replace a heart committed to justice and love.”

The response of a godly heart is outward (do justice, inward (love mercy), and upward (walk humbly).

Got questions.org

“The message of Micah is still pertinent today. Religious rites, no matter how extravagant, can never compensate for a lack of love. External compliance to rules is not as valuable in God’s eyes as a humble heart that simply does what is right. God’s people today will continue to desire justice, mercy, and humility before the Lord.”

Prayer

God, thank you that all you ask of me is my heart. May I live fully surrendered to you each day and love others in response to your love. Amen.1

The More We Know

All quotes used today are from gotquestions.org unless otherwise noted.

Bonus Post from the Journal
  1. as found on p107 of the journal, Our God Who Pursues ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Love, Quiet Time

Connection of the Heart

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Sometimes, I feel like a broken record about the importance of building a relationship with God and staying connected to the body of Christ. I make no apologies though, because – I believe we are to encourage one another daily. I think our relationship with God and other believers is vitally important to our faith- even to the point of repetitive encouragement. Staying connected takes time and effort, and as Mrs. Morin suggests – the risk of love. Enjoy today’s shared treasure 🦋

Holding on by Heart: Is Loving Really Worth the Risk?

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Set Apart - Living a Life for God's Glor

A Fragrant Offering

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based on the LGG Study, Set Apart, w4d3

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-5 / SOAP verses 1-3

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. 3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.

Ephesians 5:1-3 NLT

“Imitate God in everything you do” can be an overwhelming command because God is the giver of all givers. He gave the most extravagant gift ever given, His only begotten Son. He gave His son so that a world full of sinners – His enemies, to be more precise – could forego their deserved punishment of death and obtain not only freedom from sin but eternal life with Him in a Kingdom unlike anything we can imagine. We are called to imitate God not just because of His extravagant gift of love but because He also chose us as His own children. God’s love obviously runs deep, and we are to live a life that matches that love by following the example of Christ.

“Follow the example of Christ, who loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God,” can also be an overwhelming command. Paul makes a clear connection not to the time Jesus spent with the disciples or to the miracles He performed or the lessons He taught – but specifically to the fact that He offered Himself up as a sacrifice for the undeserving sinners – and He did it, not because He would gain anything, but rather to do what pleased God.

So, exactly how do we imitate God in His giving or Christ in His dying? How do we imitate such an impossible love? Clearly, from Paul’s examples of ‘what not to do’ in chapter five verse three, we must follow the more holy and righteous acts the Father and Son have done and walk in the empowerment of the Spirit God has given us. Paul gives the answer this time by teaching that we must live pure and holy lives which can be equally daunting because it demands that we put off what is natural to the sinful man by sacrificing selfish attitudes, sinful desires, and the temptations of this life. Paul gave an example of this in his last words of chapter four – when He said “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” (Eph 4:32) – Forgiveness and compassion can be costly when they come at the expense of our pride or the anger we long to hang on to, or the love and compassion we just aren’t feeling. The good news is as we exercise our faith, we will grow in our faith and the holiness of our Father and the righteousness of our Savior will begin to rub off on us and shine through for others to see. As this happens we will find ourselves desiring to please God rather than join in the behavior and customs of this world.

Being set apart is a beautiful thing! It means that we’re living out our purpose, showing the world what it looks like to walk hand in hand with our Father. When we embrace who we are in Christ, as dearly loved children, we won’t want to reflect anything that is not a reflection of our Father. Instead, we will want to live sexually pure, kind, and generous lives because, in love, we want to reflect the One who so generously sacrificed so much for us.

LGG Journal Entry / Set Apart Journal, p127
Wisdom From the Journey

We must live differently from the world – because the ways of the world are not fitting for a child of God.

The acts described in verses three through five are not born out of love that comes from God but rather of sin and ungodly desires born out of a love for self and the world.

Paul reminds us that we are dearly loved children of God and that Christ’s love moved Him to sacrifice His life for ours and for the pleasure of God – so LOVE is definitely the dominating factor to be imitated. To do so requires that we understand and know the qualities of love … what it is and what it isn’t. The best answer to this is found in 1 Corinthians 13 where we read that Love …

  • is patient
  • is kind
  • i not envious
  • is not boastful
  • is not conceited
  • does not behave inappropriately
  • is not selfish
  • is not easily angered
  • is not a keeper of wrongs
  • is long-suffering
  • rejoices in truth
  • does not find joy in unrighteousness
Reflections From the Journey

In what ways can you be an imitator of God, demonstrating His love and grace to others?

The More We Know

Don’t forget to read today’s LGG Blog Post at https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Set Apart - Living a Life for God's Glor

Guard Your Heart

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based on the LGG Study, Set Apart – Living A Life For God’s Glory / w2d4

Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-27 / SOAP verse 27

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Proverbs 4:23 NLT

This verse is in the treasure trove of verses I have long stored away in my heart, and when I read it this morning, it reminded me of a song I used to listen to by Steve Green. The song starts with words I sang as a child; maybe you remember them too – “Oh be careful little eyes what you see, oh be careful little eyes what you see. There’s a father up above, and he’s looking down in love, oh be careful little eyes what you see.” The words are a reminder to be careful with what we let our eyes see and to remember that our heavenly father looks not on the outward appearance of a man but on his heart. It is a reminder that will hopefully inspire us to maintain a pure heart before God. The chorus of the updated version of the song borrows the words Solomon spoke to his ‘son,’ “Guard your heart.” The singer warns the listener not to trade the heart for treasure or give it away, with the reminder that the payment for the ‘pleasure’ of the heart is a high price to pay. Friends, if we desire to remain pure before God, if we want to be light and salt for Him in this dark world, if we want to truly live “set apart”, please Him, and bring Him glory, as we were made to do – then we must, at all costs, guard our hearts.

Guard your Heart * Guard your Heart * Don’t trade it for treasure * Don’t give it away
Guard your Heart * Guard your Heart * As a payment for pleasure * It’s high price to pay
For a soul that remains sincere with conscience clear * Guard your Heart

Guard Your Heart / Steve Green
Applicable to us

While Solomon wrote the Words to his “son”, we know that all Scripture is given by God and useful for training, rebuking, and correcting us in how we live. We also know that the New Testament is filled with passages that stress the importance of God’s Word in the lives of His children – and in the salvation of those who have not yet believed! So, without question, Solomon’s instructions are meant to be heard and followed by us as well. – (see “The More We Know” section)

So, What steps can we take to guard our hearts more intentionally? Our larger passage, Proverbs 4:20-27, provides excellent insight and words of wisdom to answer this question. I’ve included it here with the passage from my journal. The journal page is marked up and highlighted with the many ways and reasons Solomon suggested his “child” should and could maintain a guarded heart that is pure and turned away from evil, set apart for God. Pay close attention to the fact that having a guarded heart requires that God’s Word be an active and integral part of our lives. We must pay attention to His Word, listen to the things He has made known to us, and remember them. He warns of the need to keep the heart guarded and stresses that it is the source of life. It is the key to our words and thoughts, our desires, and our activities being acceptable to God. His Word is our source of help and strength in fixing our eyes on Him and turning away from the evil in this world. It is a necessary component of being set apart, and living a life that glorifies God.

~May we not just hear His Word but follow it faithfully.

Today’s Reflection

What is one step you can take to guard your heart more intentionally? Pray about it and ask God for His help – I promise He will hear and answer your prayer, 1 Jn 15:14-15; and your heart will not only be guarded but it will be more and more drawn to and set apart for Him.

The More We Know

The importance of God’s Word made known in the Scriptures:

  • Matt. 4:4
  • Luke 24:45
  • Jn 5:39
  • Jn 8:32
  • Jn 17:17
  • Acts 17:11
  • Rom 1:16

  • Romans 10:17
  • Ephesians 6:17
  • Colossians 3:16
  • 1 Thes. 2:13
  • Hebrews 4:12
  • James1:21-23
Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Set Apart - Living a Life for God's Glor

Guard Your Heart

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based on the LGG Study, Set Apart – Living A Life For God’s Glory / w2d4

Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-27 / SOAP verse 27

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Proverbs 4:23 NLT

This verse is in the treasure trove of verses I have long stored away in my heart, and when I read it this morning, it reminded me of a song I used to listen to by Steve Green. The song starts with words I sang as a child; maybe you remember them too – “Oh be careful little eyes what you see, oh be careful little eyes what you see. There’s a father up above, and he’s looking down in love, oh be careful little eyes what you see.” The words are a reminder to be careful what we let our eyes see and to remember that our heavenly father looks not on the outward appearance of a man but on his heart. It is a reminder that will hopefully inspire us to maintain a pure heart before God. The chorus of the updated version of the song borrows the words Solomon spoke to his ‘son,’ “Guard your heart.” The singer warns the listener not to trade the heart for treasure or give it away, with the reminder that the payment for the ‘pleasure’ of the heart is a high price to pay. Friends, if we desire to remain pure before God, if we want to be light and salt for Him in this dark world, if we want to truly live “set apart”, please Him, and bring Him glory, as we were made to do – then we must, at all costs, guard our hearts.

Guard your Heart * Guard your Heart * Don’t trade it for treasure * Don’t give it away
Guard your Heart * Guard your Heart * As a payment for pleasure * It’s high price to pay
For a soul that remains sincere with conscience clear * Guard your Heart

Guard Your Heart / Steve Green
Applicable to us

While Solomon wrote the Words, we know all Scripture is given by God and useful for training, rebuking, and correcting us in how we live. We also know that the New Testament is filled with passages that stress the importance of God’s Word in the lives of His children – and in the salvation of those who have not yet believed! So, without question, Solomon’s instructions are meant to be heard and followed by us as well. – (see “The More We Know” section)

So, What steps can we take to guard our hearts more intentionally? Our larger passage, Proverbs 4:20-27, provides excellent insight and words of wisdom to answer this question. I’ve included it here with the passage from my journal. The journal page is marked up and highlighted with the many ways and reasons Solomon suggested his “child” should and could maintain a guarded heart that is pure and turned away from evil, set apart for God. Pay close attention to the fact that having a guarded heart requires that God’s Word be an active and integral part of our lives. We must pay attention to His Word, listen to the things He has made known to us, and remember them. He warns of the need to keep the heart guarded and stresses that it is the source of life. It is the key to our words and thoughts, our desires, and our activities being acceptable to God. His Word is our source of help and strength in fixing our eyes on Him and turning away from the evil in this world. It is a necessary component of being set apart, and living a life that glorifies God.

~May we not just hear His Word but follow it faithfully.

Today’s Reflection

What is one step you can take to guard your heart more intentionally? Pray about it and ask God for His help – I promise He will hear and answer your prayer, 1 Jn 15:14-15; and your heart will not only be guarded but it will be more and more set apart for Him.

The More We Know

The importance of God’s Word made known in the Scriptures:

  • Matt. 4:4
  • Luke 24:45
  • Jn 5:39
  • Jn 8:32
  • Jn 17:17
  • Acts 17:11
  • Rom 1:16

  • Romans 10:17
  • Ephesians 6:17
  • Colossians 3:16
  • 1 Thes. 2:13
  • Hebrews 4:12
  • James1:21-23