What's Protecting Your Heart?

Everything I do is affected by the condition of my heart. If I'm sad, it affects how I act. If my heart is full of anger, then that definitely affects how I behave. And, when the day is just right, and my heart is full of love, then I respond to others with love. I'm confident that this is why God's Word says,

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

Proverbs 4:23

We are not just to sometimes protect our hearts, but "above all else" we are to watch out for what we put into our hearts. I wish I would have known this when I was younger. I wish I would have known the truth of God's Word and would have filled my heart up with that information. Instead I filled my heart up with worldly information, things from the media or from people that didn't know or understand God's amazing truths. I'm sure the evil one was happy with the destruction he was doing to my life through what I was putting in my heart during those days. He was for sure happy until one precious day I started reading God's Word and pouring truth into my heart. I started filling up my heart with love and joy and peace. I started walking in The Light of God and now I can tell you that my heart is beyond happy.

How have your actions been lately? Is your life evidencing that your heart is full of joy or full of anger? Are you spreading around love and peace out of a heart full of God, or do you lead a trail of destruction in your wake? If you think you might need a little more love and joy in your heart, meditate on these scriptures today:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

"You keep him in perfect peace

    whose mind is stayed on you,

    because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3

 "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

"..in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8: 37-39

 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139:14

God also tells us in His Word to protect our hearts with the breastplate of righteousness. 

"Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness," Ephesians 6:14

Righteousness is the state of being morally right or justified. Now, there's no human way any one of us can state that we are morally right or morally perfect. We've all sinned. All of us. There is no one that is perfect. If someone tells you they are perfect they are lying and that makes them a liar which is morally imperfect. But - and that's a HUGE BUT - God paid the penalty for our sins on The Cross so that we can be seen as righteous (morally perfect) in His eyes. Anyone that has called on the Name of Jesus to be saved is seen as morally perfect in His eyes.

Now think about that for a minute. Really - stop and think about that.

I messed up today and said an ugly word, but the God of the universe looks at me and sees RIGHTEOUSNESS because of the Blood of Jesus and not me the sinner !!!! Isn't that amazing!?!?! And, more amazing than that is the fact that He wants us to cover our hearts with His righteousness. He doesn't want us to be down on ourselves because we've sinned. He wants us to repent, no doubt about that. But, when He tells us to put on the breastplate of righteousness it is to protect our hearts from how we may see ourselves. PUT ON His Righteousness! Wear it as the royalty you are. You are His Child! That is mind blowing. That is an amazing, undeserved gift. That is, well, that is grace.

God - thank You. Wow! Thank You for loving me and for grace. Thank You for telling us to protect our hearts, and giving us the tools to do just that. I stand in amazement at Your love for me and Your Words. I will forever praise you! - Amen.