"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
