“Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23 (AMP)

The heart is something beyond a machine that pumps blood. It’s more important than that. The very springs of life pump from it, according to Proverbs. The heart enables us to discern what is right or wrong.

Knowing what is right and wrong is not always easy. It depends on one’s values. What is right, then? Something that’s good? Maybe, but not every seemingly good thing is right. Evil things can be mistaken for good. Many have practiced evil things thinking they were good because they were persuaded that they were good. Look at Eve in the garden! That’s why it’s vital to protect the border of our hearts. What we allow into our hearts guides our choices, little by little, and therefore guides the direction of our lives. To make better decisions, we must feed our heart with what’s good.

So, the question is how do we know what is evil or good? Evil is something below God’s standard. Refuse to allow anything evil to influence you. How?

God has the book of knowledge for you. It’s called the Bible. Read it. Incline your heart to it. Seek His will through His Word, not just the things that seem beneficial to you at the time. He will reveal to you what’s right and wrong.

When you’re exposed to what His Word says is good, drop everything you’re doing, incline your ears, open your eyes wide — receive. Then, your heart will revere God and have the power to choose what’s right and good.

Heavenly Father, help me watch over my heart with diligence. Give me wisdom to know good from evil and right from wrong, according to your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.

By Fab Batsakis
Used by Permission

Further Reading

• A Bible Study on Waiting on God

• A Study on the Heart of God by Sylvia Gunter (Alphabet)

•  Salvation Explained

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“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.’” Matthew 28:18

Matthew 28:18-19 is a very familiar passage – it’s the one about going and making disciples. Recently I heard a sermon on the twelve words Jesus says before he gives the Great Commission and it is still resonating with me.

If we read that passage in the New Living Translation it says, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’” (In some translations it says “power” instead of “authority”.) When my pastor was preaching he pointed out that if ALL authority has been given to God then Satan has zero authority.

I’ve always thought that Satan has less power than God, but still some power. But as this verse explains, Satan doesn’t have any power. He has none. ZERO. He can’t have any authority because it was all given to God.

Satan doesn’t have any authority, the only thing he has is lies. But we need to be careful because those lies can be very powerful. They come in a variety of ways.

•    He attacks our identity: My work doesn’t matter. I’m a screw up
•    He attacks our abilities: I could never do that
•    He attacks our attitude: I don’t have to forgive her, do you know what she   did to   me?
•    He even lies about the way we see God: God has forgotten me. God could never forgive that.

It doesn’t matter that the lies aren’t true because when we listen to them we live as if they are true. We give them power. We make choices based on false information.

My pastor went on to say something that has really stuck we me. He said, “You can’t fight thoughts with thoughts. You have to fight thoughts with words.” When Satan is whispering lies into our heads we need to fight back with words, and words of scripture are particularly effective. Instead of listening to the lie and agreeing with it in your heart, speak the truth of scripture. Focus your heart and mind on what God says and you’ll see the lie for the garbage that it is.

For each of us there is one lie in particular that Satan always hits us with when we’re down. It’s important to identify that lie so you can guard against it. What is the lie that Satan tells you? You’ll probably find that it’s related to your deepest insecurity or your darkest secret. Satan doesn’t mess around; he goes for the jugular.

Think about it over the next few days. What is the worst lie Satan tells you and which Scripture can you speak against it? Write that verse out and keep it close by so you’ll have it when you need it. That way you’ll be ready to fight back the next time Satan comes whispering.

Satan doesn’t have ANY power, not even a little bit. Isn’t that wonderful news? Lies are all he has. But when we speak the truth in the face of those false whispers, not even his lies can hurt us.

Father, Teach me to guard my heart. Help me to learn the difference between your quiet voice of conviction and Satan’s lies that tell me I am unlovable, or a failure, or not enough. Give me the courage to speak Your truth in the face of these baseless lies. Remind me that my worth, my value, my redemption and my eternity are in Your hands and Satan cannot touch that, not with all the lies in the world. I am so glad that all authority, all power was given to You. Help me to remember that he doesn’t have any. Not even a little bit. Amen

Questions: What is the lie that Satan tells you? What are the lies that you have believed in the past? Which verses combat those lies?

by Claire Colvin
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  Pressing Your Reset Button

•  He is Out to Destroy You!

•  Salvation Explained

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The post Not Even a Little Bit appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

Years ago I said to my brother, “I’m not sure if that’s supposed to be a compliment or an insult.” I’ll never forget what he said next.

“If you have a choice, assume it was a compliment.” There’s a lot of wisdom in that.

So often the same words can be taken as good or bad. When I choose to assume the best of people it completely changes the way I experience the world. My attitude changes my circumstances, even on days when really awful things are happening.

It all starts in the heart. When you feel yourself getting frustrated or irritated quickly pray, “Lord, guard my heart.” Ask Him to help you let any injury or insult slide off you. Don’t pick up the hurt and take it home.

My mom used to say, “If you’re determined to find an insult, you’ll succeed.” Ask God to show you His view of the people you come in contact with. Pay attention to what’s happening in your heart. Pray for grace for yourself so you can show mercy to others. Is your heart hanging on to a hurt that you can release today?

God, Thank you that Your grace really is enough. Where there is injustice or hurt, when my pride gets bruised or my voice isn’t heard, teach me to run to You first. Remind me that my identify comes from who You say I am, not from words that get muttered in the heat of the moment. Guard my heart Father. When insults try to take root help me to be quick to pull them out. May the words I speak to other be Your words. May my attitude be more Christ-like today than it was yesterday. Teach me Your gentleness in the heat of the moment. Thank you for loving me more than I know. Thank you that out of the overflow of Your love, I can love others. Amen

Thought: Pay close attention to your attitude today. When you catch yourself holding on to hurt ask God to help you release it to Him. Give yourself a visual reminder and check in with yourself or a trusted friend throughout the day.

By Claire Colvin
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• He Put a Song in My Heart
• Something Beautiful of my Life

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