♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡ Did you know it is Heart Health month? ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡ *
The brain is really the organ in charge of our thoughts and actions. Our heart, our life pumping, blood delivering hub, gets the romantic attachments, the icon shape, and sometimes the blame for when things happen--either for the good or not so good emotion- based actions.
But really, that is, again, our thought processes, our decision making brain and all our input into it.
I think the author of Proverbs is referring here to our passions--where our input comes from.
Watch what you become passionate about. Be careful how much time is devoted to other things and not spent with God. (balance). What messages from the world are you listening to more intently than the Word of God?
What are your priorities concerning your spiritual growth?
To watch over something, to guard, indicates that there is an expectation that something may be lurking, may be ready to attack, may be wanting to steal away, slowly yet with intent, filter into our thinking and our passions. And so begins the dilution, the compromise, the passionless, unmarked, dimmed Christian life. The world bombards us with many ideologies, temptations, smart phone apps, social media, Super Bowl commercials...you know. But God gives us all we need to guard against it.
Sometimes, it is subtle-- all the busyness of everyone these days, yours truly included.
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A challenging end to January going into February, my writing and ministry partner has been hospitalized for almost 3 weeks now. I've had to do some things without her. My heart and my brain hurt for my friend; and it is only human that feelings and thoughts build. It is in community, in strong friendships and in prayer where the Holy Spirit Commanding Guard stands ready to help us keep the beat going. Her faith and love for me-- heart medicine for encouragement and my strength. We soldier on to continue in our mission, a passion for story-telling and sharing within our community to discover and connect similar passions, and just maybe, in our obedience, spark an eternal passion. God is so good.
When we are overwhelmed with everything that is not of God, our life-giving, God reflecting spring just may begin to dry up, become bitter-tasting, and/or reflect a lot of other things, not the face of Christ.
Christ is what gives our hearts life. His heart, his blood, his grace IS our life spring.
So why wouldn't we want to guard that, cover it in prayer, protect it with accountability partners, bathe it in His Word and His truth?
I know what I am passionate about. My family. I love them and I am loved and through our trials and our victories, our passion increases, our faith endures. I am passionate about keeping my son's memory alive in me and in others, for the hope of Heaven. The Word of God. It sustains me, oxygenates my blood and gives me life. Writing. I write for His glory. My friends. Like-minded, authentic, praying friends who want more of God and want to grow together, share His insights together. Creating in nature and art. To use the gifts He's given me and keep active, to see the beauty of His promises and know His grace when I seek Him and spend time being still, listening to His passionate, love-filled, guiding whispers, His wise leading.
Oh, and then there are those butterflies. My heart's passion is for God and from it flows the life-giving passions that I pray reflect Him in all He gives me to do, to be in this world for His eternal Kingdom. That is worth guarding and protecting until the day He takes me Home. ♡
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us both a brain to think, to choose, to know, to reason with. Thank You for giving us a heart, our emotions, to feel love, pain, forgiveness and grace. With both of those, sin entered the world and my own life. But because of Your own plan, and Your own love, You--The Creator, the two are connected. Love and Wisdom from You are life-sustaining and eternity-giving. Without Your sacrifice,Your grace, worldly passions disappoint, end, change and/or keep us spinning on a hamster wheel with no hope, no eternal purpose. Thank You Lord, that You are a passionate God for us, so passionate, You gave Your only Son so that I can be full of purposeful passion for more of Your own heart and have a passion for others. Help me Lord to be the best reflection of that passion, even and especially when my own emotions are challenged and my mind is drifting. May You guard against my heart and my brain from receiving messages of doubt and fear, for they are not from You. How thankful I am to be a child of God because You chose to be passionate for me. Amen.
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Delving deeply into the nuances of heart and mind and combine to propel our actions. Keeping centered on the Lord to find our way through the confusion surrounding us. Needed to read this post today deep in the challenges. Thanks, Coke!
ReplyDeleteThank you Coleene. I certainly need to do a better job guarding my heart. I also need to do a better job guarding my physical being in parking lots late at night. (Safety 101: Don't talk to strangers.) . . . Thank you for reminding me that when I am overwhelmed that is a red flag for me to change something because being overwhelmed is not of God.
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