"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
I know that typically I use a single scripture to get my point across... but think about it. When talking about the matters of the heart I really can't use enough scriptures to fully understand God's heart and the heart he has placed inside each of us to mirror his own.
Your heart, not referring to the vital organ of you flesh, but the vital organ of your soul is a treasure to God, his gift to you. Why is it that we so freely give it away and have it broken time and time again? Do you think that was his plan for us, to have it broken, used, torn or divided? I don't think it was or is, but yet I'm guilty of not guarding the very part of me that is to be the reflection of His. Our bodies were designed to surround and to protect the heart that beats inside our chest and yet we find ways to damage it. So what protects the heart of our soul? Are we protecting it by surrounding it with care or are we so eager to be accepted and "loved" that we leave it unprotected, unguarded?
Proverbs says to guard our heart above all else, why... because everything we do flows from it. Our character, strength, values, love for God and others... they all come from the heart of who we are. Too often we allow relationships and circumstances to damage our heart and we shutdown, build up walls or worse yet leave it unguarded and are left broken, hurt and damaged. Our hearts were given to us to love one another, to lift one another up, to encourage, to correct, to be a source of strength. But we have allowed so many people and things to break our hearts that we become weak and in need of repair.
We are to treasure our heart because God himself treasures it. We have a responsibility to guard it against attacks from the enemy and not allow just anyone or just anything into the deep recesses of our heart. Treat your heart as precious and valuable, its a place that the enemy would love to destroy but a place where God himself resides. I pray when people see me, speak to me or listen to me that what they see is a reflection of God's heart.
I know that some of you are thinking that you didn't intentionally let your heart be broken but instead circumstance and deceptive people are at fault. The way you guard it now is to not allow anyone or anything to see your true heart. I wish it was that easy, just to throw up the walls and not let anyone peek inside the beautiful places of your heart... but how can you reflect God if you shut the world out? Then again how do you guard it if you let the world in? Confusing? Not really. What I've learned is that the Holy Spirit that resides within my heart will speak to me (you know that little voice you hear deep within), giving you wisdom as to what to allow into your heart and what to guard against. Not everyone and not everything deserves a place in your heart. Listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, learning to hear his voice and not turn away from the instruction being given. I've never been lead astray by listening to the Holy Spirit but have often listened to my own will above God's and there I have found suffering and pain.
Can I be protected from ever feeling pain? Of course not, sometimes through the pain I've learned my greatest lessons in life. Sometimes through great tragedy I have found a strength within that I didn't know existed. I have become a better person to help another. A guarded heart doesn't mean you will never feel pain or loss, but it will save you from having to go through unnecessary suffering and will leave you with a resolve to keep pressing forward.
What are you failing to guard your heart against? Is that relationship really one God has willed for your life or is it one you willed for your life? Will it leave you a better person or a bitter person? Will that circumstance you are in, or about to enter, leave you broken or is it something that will lead you into a better one on the other side? Are you treasuring the heart God has given you or are you letting your guard down for the enemy to steal the priceless jewel that is your heart?
Under His Wings,
Heather
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Breathe; Job 6:24
"Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong."
The holidays are behind us along with the rush of all the things that we find ourselves trying to accomplish to make it the "perfect holiday" for our family and friends. This year seemed to be exceptionally busy even to the point that for the first time ever, I did not decorate a tree or bake holiday treats in usual fashion or do any of what are my own personal traditions for Christmas. The season seem to have happened so quickly and before I knew it... it was over. What happened? Ahh yes... I tried to plan 60 days worth of "stuff" into a 31 day window! Anyone else ever guilty of that? When will this lady learn? Maybe this will be the year.
While contemplating what 2014 will bring and how I will approach it and of course how I will fill up that mighty calendar, I sat for a moment and realized how the entire 2013 year flew by and just how many people, who truly are important to me, I never saw... not even one time. It's in that moment as the 2013 wrap up happened in my mind, I made it a resolution to slow down and breathe! Yes, yes... I've said it many times but this time it was different and I know that if I don't, I'm going to miss out on some of the greatest blessings of my life... spending time with those that I love. This was a year that our family and some of our closest friends lost too many loved ones. When I reflect on how I spent my time, did I let those that are no longer with us know how much I cared or was I too busy filling up my calendar trying to be superwoman in a world where I can't possibly do all that I setout to do? Although much of what I spent time doing were good things, it doesn't replace what is most precious to me and that is spending time, quality time, with those important in my life. I was reminded in those few quiet moments that I need to rearrange my priorities and get my act together as none of us are promised the next breath. It's time for me to breathe, to be quiet... I'm seeing where I have been wrong.
What a major undertaking this will be for me and my "Martha spirit". Oh how I envy sometimes my friends with "Mary spirits". But I know that my spirit is exactly as God designed it and I will continue to serve and to be the hands and feet of Christ to those who need me the most but only where God actually leads me and not necessarily every place I'm called by others. The ministry that I've been blessed to lead has a full schedule planned for this year but already as I sat to create it, I was reminded to place more time in it for fun times, times to just enjoy being sisters.
There is much to do, many hurting people, so many disasters that have occurred that have left others broken and in need. We are to be helpers in this world to our fellow man, but we also need to recharge so that we can continue and not run on empty. We all have to find that balance, tune our ears towards heaven and breathe. If you find me a little quiet throughout this year, don't worry... that's a good thing! It just means I'm being still for a recharge so that I can continue to do the work God has called me to do.
When is the last time you quieted the world around you and breathed? Maybe you are just the opposite and need to step up and do more so that the "Marthas" around you can breathe for a moment. What is it that you need to be still for and shown where you have been wrong?
Under His Wings,
Heather
The holidays are behind us along with the rush of all the things that we find ourselves trying to accomplish to make it the "perfect holiday" for our family and friends. This year seemed to be exceptionally busy even to the point that for the first time ever, I did not decorate a tree or bake holiday treats in usual fashion or do any of what are my own personal traditions for Christmas. The season seem to have happened so quickly and before I knew it... it was over. What happened? Ahh yes... I tried to plan 60 days worth of "stuff" into a 31 day window! Anyone else ever guilty of that? When will this lady learn? Maybe this will be the year.
While contemplating what 2014 will bring and how I will approach it and of course how I will fill up that mighty calendar, I sat for a moment and realized how the entire 2013 year flew by and just how many people, who truly are important to me, I never saw... not even one time. It's in that moment as the 2013 wrap up happened in my mind, I made it a resolution to slow down and breathe! Yes, yes... I've said it many times but this time it was different and I know that if I don't, I'm going to miss out on some of the greatest blessings of my life... spending time with those that I love. This was a year that our family and some of our closest friends lost too many loved ones. When I reflect on how I spent my time, did I let those that are no longer with us know how much I cared or was I too busy filling up my calendar trying to be superwoman in a world where I can't possibly do all that I setout to do? Although much of what I spent time doing were good things, it doesn't replace what is most precious to me and that is spending time, quality time, with those important in my life. I was reminded in those few quiet moments that I need to rearrange my priorities and get my act together as none of us are promised the next breath. It's time for me to breathe, to be quiet... I'm seeing where I have been wrong.
What a major undertaking this will be for me and my "Martha spirit". Oh how I envy sometimes my friends with "Mary spirits". But I know that my spirit is exactly as God designed it and I will continue to serve and to be the hands and feet of Christ to those who need me the most but only where God actually leads me and not necessarily every place I'm called by others. The ministry that I've been blessed to lead has a full schedule planned for this year but already as I sat to create it, I was reminded to place more time in it for fun times, times to just enjoy being sisters.
There is much to do, many hurting people, so many disasters that have occurred that have left others broken and in need. We are to be helpers in this world to our fellow man, but we also need to recharge so that we can continue and not run on empty. We all have to find that balance, tune our ears towards heaven and breathe. If you find me a little quiet throughout this year, don't worry... that's a good thing! It just means I'm being still for a recharge so that I can continue to do the work God has called me to do.
When is the last time you quieted the world around you and breathed? Maybe you are just the opposite and need to step up and do more so that the "Marthas" around you can breathe for a moment. What is it that you need to be still for and shown where you have been wrong?
Under His Wings,
Heather
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