The Sunday Mail
THANK you for choosing to read this article today. We pray it will be a blessing to you. For the past two weeks I have been writing about guarding your heart.
I mentioned how important it was for you to take care of your heart from a health perspective through healthy godly and upright living as well as regular exercise. I also touched on the deceptive nature of the heart, whereby your heart can actually deceive even yourself, only to reveal its’ true nature under particular circumstances and usually with embarrassing consequences.
Your heart can disqualify or qualify you. That is food for thought hey. Today we go a little deeper. Remember our anchor scripture is Proverbs 4 vs 23 that says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
You might ask what makes the heart be what it is, and behave how it behaves? Well we will give you two references and hopefully they will help to shed some light.
First in Psalm 119 vs 11 David says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” He is talking to God and says he has taken God’s word and hidden it in his heart because keeping the Word of God in your heart results in a particular set of actions. From this one verse we can see that the heart is formed by words that one allows into it. So the question I have for you is what words are in your heart?
For some you were told you are ugly when you were growing up. Some could have been told they are failures.
Some might have been told other very hurtful words. Once these words are allowed to enter into the heart it results in a particular set of actions.
For example some people are very critical and negative, others never see any good while others are always depressed or suffer low self-esteem.
Perhaps this is because of the words that were spoken into their heart. Do not allow every word spoken to you into your heart, because words have power and once they enter your heart they will grow roots and begin to control your life.
The reverse is true, the right words in your heart will make you stand strong and flourish even in the most unlikely circumstances.
The second example for today is found in Luke 2 vs 19 where the Bible says, “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”
This was in reference to what was happening regarding the birth of Jesus; the angels appearing, the shepherds and the wise men from the east, the fact that she was a virgin and yet gave birth through the Holy Spirit.
Basically the many unique events that surrounded the birth of Jesus all of these things she saw or observed and kept them in her heart. From this we learn that the events surrounding our lives and happening to us can leave a significant imprint on our lives
For example the death of a parent, a forced relocation like changing schools or location, abusive relationships, or even unhealthy environments.
Some people grow up in broken homes, or in conditions that are not conducive for a healthy upbringing. These situations have a negative effect on you because they have the capability to enter your heart and produce negative behaviours and attitudes.
For some it is the relationships that you have had which were very unhealthy. That is where we get there term “heart-break” from because you will have opened your heart to someone and they abuse your heart resulting in it being broken.
Again the reverse is true . . . positive environments and relationships result in a healthy heart and conversely allow you to be a better individual.
Based upon what we have just seen above you have to guard your heart from words. Do not just allow anyone to speak into your heart. Life can be tough but do not let the situations that you face to negatively affect you.
Some people open their hearts to a girl or a boy in a relationship and the end result is total disaster. One of the ways to guard your heart against heart break is to not expose your heart to environments and conditions that are not tested.
Do not get into relationships when you are too young or with people who do not align to your core values. Another way to keep your heart is to let the Word of God to be your guide and to meditate on it always Psalm 119 vs 11.
We are advised by scripture in Deuteronomy 6 vs 5, Matthew 22 vs 37, Mark 12 vs 30, Luke 10 vs 27 to, “Love the Lord with all your heart.” Basically this means doing all you can to live a God fearing and righteous life. Ultimately if you are reading this article and you are not a Christian . . . give your heart to the Lord.
Whoever you are you can trust God with your heart He will take care of it and your life will never be the same again.
There are some who have done most of what I have mentioned above yet you have experienced heartbreak in one way or the other.
Let go of any unforgiveness, bitterness, jealousy, anger, abuse and guilt you might have in your heart. It is toxic to you even if those emotions are justified no good will come of it.
Confess your sin and get rid of the guilt, release the burden in your heart, be thankful and learn to let go. It might be tough but with God’s help I know you will prevail. That is all for now. Till next week, God bless.
Tinashe Zinyemba is a pastor with new Life Covenant Church. Email feedback at [email protected]
