Guard your Heart

My mom fell ill weeks ago. We all thought it was covid. Turns out it was not. Now, she has heard her friends’ friends die. She one time called me and began ‘to cover for me’ all the deaths that had happened in the home area. As the conversation built, some part of me suddenly came alive and cut my silence;

I sounded rude, but I’m glad she didn’t take offence. I told her over the phone that her knowing about each and every one that has died will not make her feel better but instead garner fear.

In the parable of the sower, Jesus talked about four kinds of seeds. The ones that fell by the way side were eaten by birds, the ones that fell on stony ground sprouted, but died immediately because their roots were too shallow and the sun scorched them too. The ones that fell by the thorns were choked. Yes, they grew up, but HAD NO FRUIT. Those that fell on good ground, yielded fruit!

Many of us are sowing seeds of God’s word true, Psalm 91 in all versions, but the sun scorches that word too quick or the thorns choke the power of it, or we don’t brood over those words long enough to enable their roots to grow deep in our hearts.

There’s that other scenario I saw, where we sow the good word, but as we sleep the enemy comes and sows the weeds. (Matt 13:24-25)

Evangelist Solome Nantayiro gave us some advice on this, “Not every statistic must be read. Not every video (about who has died) must be watched…” These were the words I tried to tell my mom but didn’t find soon enough.

Regardless, I had Proverbs 4:23. NIV says ‘Above ALL ELSE, guard your heart!’ ABOOOOOVE ALL ELSE. Above sanitizing, above praying, above putting on your mask, guard your heart from what you are watching and listening to.

Let me talk about Smith Wigglesworth, the apostle of faith. He raised a record of 14 dead bodies in his entire lifetime. He never accepted newspapers into his house. Back in the early 90’s, TV wasn’t common. I imagine he was guarding his heart diligently.

Imagine reading ‘Wealth and riches are in my house (Psa 112:3) and then you see a newspaper with a thick heading saying; Country facing a greater economic depression since 1930’ and then in smaller words below it, ‘…expect a spike in poverty…’

Whether you like it or not, having read that leaves a mark of flinch on you. The image could stay in your mind, and the enemy could peradventure flash it in your mind whenever you pose to confess the other scripture.

Well, Smith didn’t want to ever get in that scenario. ‘To hell with your newspapers, I’m guarding this treasure in my heart!’

Place measures today on how you’ll guard your heart. Me? I’ve learnt to say ‘I have no data’ when a relative comes asking to google the number of total global covid deaths. I mean ‘…will knowing it improve their health?’ No!

Others claim that they want to be updated. Kale! Keep your updating; keep planting your weeds. When you suddenly feel overwhelmed with fear and sadness, know that it’ll be you to blame first! For what is in your heart will influence what you think. (Matt 12:34) What you think will influence what you speak. (Prov 23:7) What you speak (sow) will influence what you create (harvest), (Gal 6:7)

This is the real battle. It’s more mental and psychological than it is physical

Other ways to guarding your heart are listed below; Renew your mind by His word concerning your health (Rom 12:2) and prayer (Phil 4:6-7)

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For those whose bibles are far away,

Matthew 12:34 …For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.

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Happy Guarding…

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https://biggiesbigblogs.wordpress.com/2021/06/22/misplaced-faith/