Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
That’s what the NIV says. This is the verse that I had memorized. (It’s very similar in Spanish) KJV used the word KEEP in place of guard. Not much difference in a way, but a big difference in application.
Keeping your heart to me means things like keeping your head. Staying calm. Keeping it pure. Keeping bad stuff out. I keep my heart by keeping on the path of righteousness. I keep my heart right by thinking about Godly things. I guard my heart by the words that I say, and words that I listen to. Even music. My youth was filled with non Christian music. Every now and then those horrible, heart distracting lyrics pop up into my head. The only way to combat it is by filling my head with Godly, inspiring words and prayer. I really don’t have time to listen to much music, but worship in any manner helps. Your heart is where your mind is. Keep it to the things above.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things…. And the God of peace will be with you.
Guarding your heart is a little different. It’s more active. Sometimes I have to guard my heart with my feet. Running from temptation mostly. Not going to the refrigerator at 2 am. Not going near a place that takes my mind off of God. Not even turning on a radio station that doesn’t glorify God, or getting out of a room with a bad tv program going on in there or worse yet, the news! If a person is actively poisonous for me to be around, I distance myself from them. (The very few times this happened, it was a Christian). Some of my longest and most faithful friendships are with people who are not Christians. I pray they come to Christ. But they are not poisonous to me, because they don’t actively try to make me disobey God. I don’t actively attack them for their heathen lifestyles. What would Jesus do? I am not quick to distance myself from anyone. I tell them several times that what they’re saying is hurting my mission, and my walk with the Lord. Again, it is always under the premise that they are hearing from God, but are telling me to do things that are contrary to God’s Word, or that are flat out untrue. When I find that they continuously are undermining what I am trying to do for the Lord, I have to get away from them. I love them, I pray for them, it grieves me, but I have to do it. Sometimes for a season. Sometimes permanently. Usually, the Lord is warning me long before I finally move to get away for them. My hesitancy has caused problems for me. I tend to not quit on people, but God sometimes insists. People can have different points of view, no problem. Better put, people will always have different points of view. That’s fine and healthy. I am friends with a lot of people who don’t believe like I do, as I said previously. While their lifestyles and politics are revolting, I love them anyway. So does Jesus. When I see someone continuously trying to make me question what I know God has shown me to do, through His Word, then it troubles me. I begin to see a pattern. The key giveaway for me is anger. If they get angry because I don´t believe they are hearing from God on my behalf, I am gone.
Titus 3:10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.
Why is guarding your 3 pound blood pump (your heart) so important? Physically, a heart is an organ. It is not our brain. It is muscle and tissue and blood. When the Bible talks about our heart, it is talking about our soul. When we die, our grey matter will decompose, but our soul will live on. It will be freed from our earth suits (another name for our bodies). We will continue to exist, (and be aware) eternally, because of our souls. Our souls will remember and feel. That awareness has nothing to do with our body parts. Our souls need to be protected, guarded above all else because it is with us for eternity. We do that by controlling what we say, look at, listen to, and think about. Job said that he made a pact with his eyes in Job 31:1. What we don’t want in our soul we should run from. Don’t look at it. Don’t listen to it. Don’t even argue with it. That’s what the delete button (or power cord, or off switch) is for on your computer. That’s what ‘block’ is for on social media or smart phones. That’s what your feet are for.
2 Timothy 2:23 Amplified says it best,
But have nothing to do with foolish and ignorant speculations [useless disputes over unedifying, stupid controversies], since you know that they produce strife and give birth to quarrels.
A typical argument from a person I should avoid is ´God told me that you´re doing this wrong´ my answer, ´really? I just talked to God literally an hour ago and Idid my daily devotions 3 hours ago, God showed me absolutely nothing about this matter. Then, when anger starts in the other person, RUN! Strife, quarrels and arguments are not Godly but satanic. You may debate, but once it gets ugly, walk away. If you fall into arguments every time you are in the presence of someone, maybe it`s time to walk away. Ask God. Check your spirit. Is it something you¨re doing? If not, maybe it’s just not a good fit. No harm no foul. Love them, pray for them, but if there is continuous contention, leave! Even if the person is your pastor.
In the book of Acts, Apostles Paul, Mark, Peter and Barnabas were said to be leaders of the early church. But they had problems among themselves. Sometimes they were reconciled in this lifetime. Sometimes they didn’t. It is not known if Paul ever reconciled with Barnabas although Barnabas was instrumental in reconciling Mark to Paul. They were all saved, Godly men. They just didn’t get along with each other. They went separate ways. Nothing is wrong with that. Sin occurs when you hate, strive, argue, retaliate, choose sides, defame and gossip.
You guard your heart by keeping it. You keep your heart (soul) by guarding it. Always keeping Jesus in your mind. Remembering what God has done for you. Guard it on your heart. That’s what Mary (Jesus’ mom) did. Long after she moved to Ephesius with John, she had those things still guarded in her soul. She still does to this day, in heaven.
Luke 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
The beauty of all of this is that we really don’t have to worry about it. God’s peace will help us and guide us, if we understand grace. It’s not on you to do anything but obey.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
With much love in Jesus
Dean and Winnie Peters
Joyfully serving the ‘least of these’ in Managua Nicaragua https://www.facebook.com/winnie.pureheart www.whatistheloveofGod.com www.PureHeartChildren.org
COVID 19 UPDATE- GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE, PRAYER STILL CHANGES THINGS. WE STILL HAVE NOT HAD ONE CASE AMONG THE 300+ FAMILIES WE SERVE, NOR AMONG OUR STAFF, NOR THEIR EXTENDED FRIENDS AND FAMILY HERE IN NICARAGUA. NICARAGUA SEEMS TO BE FINE FOR THE MOST PART! PRAYING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE IT IN THE STATES, AND HAVE LOST LOVED ONES. PSALM 91
Pureheart Update – WE ARE STILL BUILDING AN ADDITION TO THE WINNER HOME FOR BETTER, MORE COMFORTABLE HOUSING FOR WINNIE AND A BIGGER WAREHOUSE. DAVID OUR CONTRACTOR GOT SAVED. EVERYONE THAT WORKS WITH US GETS SAVED EVENTUALLY. PRAY FOR MORE SOULS, AND THAT I MAY DISCIPLE THEM.
ppRAYR
PRAYER REQUESTS
- PRAYING TO USED OF GOD, TO WIN SOULS, AND TO FINISH WELL, PRAY FOR DAVID OUR CONTRACTOR.
- FOR HEALING LOVED ONES WITH EVERYTHING FROM CANCER TO MENTAL ILLNESS.
- FOR HOME VISITATIONS TO PRODUCE RESULTS
- FOR OUR 2 FEEDING CENTERS AND THE TWO OTHER FEEDING CENTERS THAT WE HELP.
- PRAY FOR LITTLE ABIGAIL, WHO HAD A HOLE IN HER HEART THAT WE HAD SURGERY ON YESTERDAY.
- AS WE ARE HELPING OTHERS WITH EMERGENCY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS RAINY SEASON DESTROYS THE SHACKS THAT MANY OF OUR PEOPLE LIVE IN. THAT WE BE THE LIGHT AND PEACE OF JESUS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM.
- AS WE ARE STILL STRIVING WITH THE GOVERNMENTAL PAPERWORK, AMONG OF WHICH IS FOR PERMISSION TO HAVE AN ORPHANAGE-OLDFOLKS HOME ON A SUSTAINABLE GREEN FARM IN THE MANAGUA CITY LIMITS. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME IN TEN YEARS THAT WE HAVE HAD TO START AGAIN FROM SCRATCH EVERYTHING FROM ALL THE ACCOUNTING, BOOKS, AND PERMISSIONS FOR THE ORPHANAGE. EVEN REINCORPORATING DOWN HERE. IT GETS TOUGHER EVERY TIME, BUT WE AREN’T GOING ANYWHERE. THE CPA PAPERWORK AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS ESPECIALLY TOUGH. WE HAVE HAD TO DOUBLE OUR CPS´S PAY .
- AS WE ARE WAITING ON THE LORD TO PROVIDE THE MONEY AND THE PERFECT RESOURCES FOR ALL THE FULL TIME STAFF, DOCTOR, NURSE, AIDES ETC THAT COME WITH A FARM THAT HAS ROOM FOR AN ORPHANAGE AND AN OLD FOLKS HOME ON IT, AS WELL AS THE PROPERTY ITSELF. EVEN WITH JUST AN ORPHANAGE HERE, OUR STAFF WILL ALMOST HAVE TO DOUBLE IN SIZE PER NICARAGUAN REGULATIONS
A TALL ORDER, BUT NOTHING IS TOO BIG FOR GOD, NOT EVEN DIFFICULT.
Please continue what you are doing to keep us going.. WHATEVER YOU’RE DOING, IT’S WORKING!!. pray, donate, and spread the word!