3 Ways To Guard Your Heart
Everything flows from the heart according to Jesus (Mt 15:18). The heart is the root of all action and of life. For many, the Gospel of Jesus has touched their heart; a heart of stone has been removed and a new spirit is born (Ez 36:26).
“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” -Proverbs 4:23
However, this new heart is still prone to wander after it’s own way. (Psalm 119:10)
Guard your heart!
A wandering heart takes on many forms – spiritual apathy, numbness, rebellion, discontent, ungodly thoughts, and self seeking affection and actions. I am amazed at how easily my heart chases after its own way instead of trusting and following God’s way even though I have been seriously following Jesus for decades. I’ve found that guarding my heart requires regular self-assessment. Sometimes some good questions can help.
Guard Your Heart: Seek humility.
Guard Your Heart: Value grace.
GRACE flows from a heart that loves God more than itself.How do I respond to the unexpected? Do I value and encourage other’s ideas and gifts? Do I trust God’s control over the tiniest details of my life? When my plans don’t work out, who do I hold responsible? Am I able to see the hand of God at work when life doesn’t work out the way I want it to?
Guard Your Heart: Show love.
LOVE springs from a surrendered heart.How do I respond to others when I’m under stress or being attacked? During a trial or suffering, do I show gentleness to my enemies and patience with other people? Am I able to say tough things with gentleness for the sake of love, or does my tone or choice of words come across as punitive?
Guard Your Heart: Through Prayer.
Dear Father,
Help me do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility give me grace to count others more significant than myself.
Amen
Guard Your Heart: A right heart is rewarded!
Our hearts are active in everything we say and do, revealing who or what is the “god” or God of our heart. Proverbs 22:4 gives us a reason to guard our hearts. “The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.”
Blessings,
Karen Lindwall-Bourg
“Achieve Levels of Success Worth Celebrating”
*Founder, Karen Bourg Companies http://karenbourg.com
*Owner, President {Inter}National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs/International Christian Mompreneur Network http://nacwe.org
*Founder, RHEMA Publishing House http://rhemapublishinghouse.com
*Founder, RHEMA Lakeside Retreat Center https://www.facebook.com/rhemaretreat/
*Founder, RHEMA Counseling Associates http://rhemacounseling.com
About Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Karen Lindwall-Bourg is the President of the {Inter} National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs [est. May 2010] and the new President of the International Christian Mompreneur Network [est. July 2010], both at http://nacwe.org . She and the NACWE Operations and Leadership Teams work diligently to provide
· Community
· Networking
· Education
· Missions
opportunities to Christian Women Entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs and Nanapreneurs alike all over the world!
Our Core Values are
· Community – we value Connection, Collaboration and Contribution
· Networking – we value Nurture, New relationships and New and innovative offers
· Education – we value Encouragement, Excellence and Expressiveness, and
· Missions – we value Ministry and Making a difference
Karen is wife to Fred, Mommy to 6 kids and 5 in-loves, Nana to “going-on” 12 grandchildren, and treat provider deluxe for a herd of Great Pyrenees who protect their north TX ranch! She is an entrepreneur coach, author, publisher, retreat hostess and more! Learn more about Mastermind groups and “Celebration” coaching with Karen at http://karenbourg.com