by Pastor Anita
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23).
Often in the Scriptures, heart is used in lieu of spirit and the reason is clear. Just as the physical heart is the operational centre of the human body, so also the spirit is the controlling centre of human existence. Proverbs 4:23 (MSG) says, "Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts." Everything about your life actually originates from your spirit. Success or failure, wealth or poverty, excellence or mediocrity will emanate from a man’s spirit.
Your mind is the door to your spirit. That’s why whatever words and thoughts you allow go through your mind, unchecked, will be deposited in your spirit. This is the reason you have to screen and filter what goes through your mind to your spirit.
Every day, we hear words, see things, and receive all kinds of information, positive and negative. Thus, you need to mount guard on your heart and not allow your spirit receive and process the wrong information. Never allow your heart dwell on anything you hear, feel or see that’s inconsistent with the Word of God. The Hebrew word translated "guard" in Proverbs 4:23 gives the picture of a stronghold mounted over something valuable. We can as well paraphrase the scripture this way: "Mount a garrison over your heart, for it affects everything you do."
If for example, you heard that there’s trouble in the economy; recession is setting in, and there’s hardship everywhere; don’t be perturbed because you’re not of this world. Refuse to process such negative information; don’t dwell on it. Refuse to let it run your life or determine the circumstances of your existence. Rather, you should say "No! That’s not for me. I function in the realm of superabundance because I’m an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ. I can never be poor, broke or disadvantaged."
If you give wrong thoughts access into your heart, they’ll ‘instill fear in you’. So, make the conscious effort to keep vigilant watch over your heart. Embrace only thoughts of success, victory, health, prosperity, happiness and fulfilment that come from God’s Word.
Prayer
Dear Father, I thank you for your Word that gives me the right information to think and meditate upon; your Word continually finds its home in my heart, effectual and effective in me, producing everything it talks about, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
f u r t h e r s t u d y: Philippians 4:8
Daily Scripture Reading
1 Year Reading Plan : Psalms 90-93; Romans 14-15:1-4
2 Year Reading Plan : Philippians 2:1-11; Isaiah 63
