Guard Your Heart

If you ever find yourself feeling down, miserable and depressed simply at a thought that comes to mind then this message is for YOU!!

The Bible says 'we have been given the mind of Christ' and that 'God has not given us a mind of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.' Therefore I ask you, where do negative thoughts come from? Where does depression come from? Where does hatred, low self esteem and violent thoughts come from? Not from God, I can assure you of that! So if God made us, and intended us to have a mind of Christ, could it be that through sin we have adopted the mind of something or someone else?

Thoughts are also dangerous, not only do they cause emotional and spiritual harm, they can also lead to physical harm. Consider this, you want chocolate. Your really, really want chocolate. How long before you go out of your way to get that chocolate you've been craving. You see, a thought conceived, soon becomes an action. If we think negatively, ultimately we will begin to act negatively. Our thoughts become our actions!! Is it no wonder that the Bible says:
'For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.' Proverbs 23:7

The Bible is clear in that it talks about thoughts in a way that makes it obvious we can change our thoughts and the hold they have over our life....but not without Jesus. First to have a mind of Christ, you first have to accept Christ.

Read on.......

(Adapted and edited from New Wine Church Chronicle)

Don’t allow all information that comes your way to go through your heart. Sieve and filter what you hear and see!

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life.”
Proverbs 4:23

Guard your heart against:
1. Negative words – that come from people around you
2. Negative information – from the media. Wisely pick and chose the kind of TV programmes you watch and the publications you read.
3. Negative thoughts – pessimistic thoughts are not from God.

It is necessary that you protect your mind against negative thoughts and words. Set a Centurion, Aide-de-Camp or security guard over your heart. Don’t allow people’s negative comments to determine your future.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5

Your countenance and spirit are affected by your state of mind. If you are merry or sorrowful your countenance and spirit will react accordingly.

A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs 15:13

I love the way Joyce Meyer put it "Think about what you're thinking about." Friends, your mind is too vulnerable, too exposed to be left wondering around on it's own.

Reject any thoughts that are not hopeful or optimistic. You cannot fight thoughts with thoughts but declare and say the word of God.

“For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things”
Philippians 4:8

What will you say?

On that last day, when we meet Jesus face to face, what will you say?

You: I didn't know it was you.
Jesus: I looked inside your heart and indeed you knew it was me

You: I wasn't bought up in a Christian home, besides, there were so many religions, how was I to know which was the right one?
Jesus: Because I said that I am the way, the truth and life. My Father also told you - he said 'there is no other god besides me!

You: I didn't hear you knock
Jesus: Each time someone mentioned my name to you, that was me knocking, but you wouldn't open.

You: But my church was full of hypocrites
Jesus: And did my word not say that I am the author and finisher of your faith?

You: I thought I had more time
Jesus: Yet my word says 'now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation.' and 'today, if you hear my voice, do not harden your heart.'

You: It was just too hard to give up my lifestyle
Jesus: And yet I said he who loses his life for my sake shall surely save it. Did I not tell you that I came that you might have life and have it more abundantly.

You: I was afraid of what my friends and family would say or think
Jesus: And I said if you are ashamed of me, I'd be ashamed of you before my Father

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10