Guard your heart! Investigate every thought that passes through your mental processes and make those thoughts pass through the filter of God’s Word. There is an attack against the believer designed to change your belief system. The enemy is after the productivity of the Word in your life.
Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23 AMP
Jesus instructs us through the parable of the sower about the various methods of the adversary to steal, kill and destroy the Word. We see the Word of God that is not understood is the seed sown by the wayside in Matthew 13:19. We recognize that offense causes your heart to be stony ground where the Word cannot gain a strong root system. When pressures come against your life, the Word cannot continue because offense brings an end to its growth. Finally, the heart full of worry or concern is like a garden full of thorns. The heart full of cares doesn’t allow room for the Word to grow. The Word gets choked out by worry!
All of these heart conditions can attack the believer if they aren’t diligently guarding or keeping their heart. The definition of the word “keep” is
i) to continue having or holding,
ii) to watch over or defend,
iii) to maintain in orderly condition.
This instruction has a focus on maintaining a certain condition. Many times, we teach this from an aspect of stopping the wrong information or influence. But, you can protect your heart from the wrong thing while neglecting to maintain faith. In the same way that you can refrain from saying the wrong thing and neglect to make a faith declaration, you can stop the negative from entering your heart and never deposit the Word to maintain your spiritual fruit.
Let’s take a different approach. Let’s take an offensive approach to our life instead of a defensive position. From the many football games I have endured, (Oops, I should say enjoyed) while my husband cheered on his favorite team, I have learned this one thing. Most of the points are scored while the team has the offensive line on the field. At times, the defense will pick up a fumble or intercept a play and manage to score. Generally, the points are scored when the team is focused on offensive plays with the players trained in offensive moves are on the field.
Your spiritual advancement needs an offensive approach. Instead of studying things in an attempt to combat the attack you are under, begin to study the Word that will help you advance past that attack. Instead of praying in response to the things happening in your life, begin praying in line with where you want to be in the future. The Holy Spirit will guide you. He will give you the specifics and the “cues” for your prayer life. The Lord already has a specific plan for your progress. He has planned the very best for your life and made paths ready to lead you there. God’s good life is ready right now for you to live it. Look at this verse!
For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. Ephesians 2:10 AMP
Finding the paths of God is not hard. Walking in the progress The Father has designed is not hard. It is just different. It is different from the way of our society. It is probably different than the way you were raised or taught unless you were raised in the Word.
The key to your progress on these paths is in your attention. What has your focus? To what are you paying attention?
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Proverbs 4:20
“Attend” means “to apply the mind to something, to focus the consciousness to produce greater clarity.” The design of our Heavenly Father is to keep our attention on His instruction. He wants us to apply our mind to His truth. The Lord wants us to focus on the truths of who we are in Christ until they are clear enough for us to walk in them.
The adversary wants your attention too. The problem wants your focus. This is what worry does. Worry drives the focus of the thoughts and emotions to the situation. How many of us have been deceived into thinking, “If I worry about this long enough, I can fix it”? For many people, worry is a trained response. When things happen, they worry and don’t know how to “not worry.” Remember, God’s method is not hard! It is different.
The reason worry comes easily to so many people, even believers, is that they are highly developed in worry. They have consistently given their attention to the problem and the situation. They have never exercised control over their emotions to disengage from the circumstance. They have never disciplined their thoughts to stay focused on God’s Word. When a crisis occurs, they lack spiritual stamina to defeat the onslaught against the mind, will, and emotions.
My partner, you and I are going to respond differently. We are going to be on the offensive line with our focus on God’s Word. We are ready to move forward. We are preparing our mind, will, and emotions to be under the governing power of God’s Word. The Holy Spirit can easily lead us. We are people easily persuaded by the Word!
There is much more on this topic in my newest book release, “Finding God’s Answers.” I want to offer it to you, my partner, at the pre-release price of $10. This book has many truths that The Lord has been teaching me all year. I believe it will be an instrument of revelation for you. Click on this link to purchase “Finding God’s Answers.” I will pay the postage. You can purchase and sow online. For your convenience, we have a toll-free number available for orders and sowing. You can also call 800-516-8082.
Pastor Philip and I along with our prayer team at Faith Builders are praying for you. Thank you for watching the broadcast, listening to the podcasts and visiting the website! Thanks for your prayers and support! We love you!
