Guard Your Heart

 "be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. [Guard] your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil." - Proverbs 4:20-27

Do you know what Chinese water torture is? Yeah - where there is a constant drip of water on your forehead. It never ceases and then finally you go crazy. [It was first described in the late 15th or early 16th century by Hippolytus de Marsiliis from Bologna, Italy. He got the idea by the way water wears away a stone over time. But the term was actually made known by Harry Houdini. There is no documented proof that it ever originated in China] But I digress! My point is that as Christians we are exposed to the constant dripping of a fallen world - like Chinese water torture. 

Everywhere you turn you are faced with those things that are contrary to the Word of God. Drip, drip, drip. Things contrary - opposed to your professed faith. To your new life. Diametrically opposed to the holiness of God. Not surprisingly, the Bible is replete with admonitions to turn away from those things and turn toward that which honors God.

"do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:6-9

There is a song that we taught our children when they were small. "Oh be careful little eyes what you see, oh be careful little ears what you hear, oh be careful little tongue what you say, For the Lord is up above and He is looking down with love so be careful ..... " You can finish it :)

And so, my encouragement to you is to be careful. As an example, guard against the culture invading your home through your television and attacking you and your family. Audio and visual media will attempt to convince you that what it portrays is normal and good, entertaining even. It may be normal and even good in a fallen world, but not according to the Word of God. And like Chinese water torture it will continue to wear away to your spiritual sensibilities trusting that one day you will yield to it.

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life —is not from the Father but is from the world." - 1 John 2:15-16

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone