Dear Partners and Friends,
Many times I have heard the verse in Proverbs 4:23, “Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” In the past, I thought this meant, “guard it or keep it from danger or evil content.” While the instruction does have that idea connected to it, the main thrust of this instruction is: “Maintain your heart in orderly condition, continue having or holding (in full, well-stocked condition, to watch over or defend.” In other words, keep it full of spiritual power! Maintain your joy level! Top off the tank of peace! Organize the heart and throw out all grudges and bad attitudes!
In order to stand in faith, maintaining your heart or spirit is the first thing of importance. The spiritual forces of God’s life flow from the heart to manifest in the natural arenas. Your marriage, your finances, the relationship with your children, your interaction with your co-workers, and every other aspect of your life are influenced by the strength of your spirit. If you are weak spiritually, you are vulnerable to the situation.
A healthy spirit conquers adversity, but what can you do when the spirit is crushed?
Proverbs 18:14 MSG
The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear?
Proverbs 18:14 AMP
Maintaining the supply of our born-again spirit gives us the ability to walk through challenges victoriously. Keeping your spirit strong is God’s design for you to stand against all adversity. The Lord doesn’t want us struggling and hanging on until the going on comes on. He wants to strengthen us to overcome. The psalmist declared, “For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.”(Ps 18:29) The Apostle Paul had this revelation as he prayed in Ephesians 3:16 (AMP) May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].
We are instructed to be steadfast and immovable. (I Corinthians 15:58) We are commanded to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might and stand. (Ephesians 6:10;14) In Galatians, the mandate is “Stand fast therefore…” This steadfast stand of faith is a victorious flow from the heart or spirit of the believer. The steadfast stand requires a steadfast flow into the heart.
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes;
keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Proverbs 4:20-22
The process of maintaining the heart employs the eyes and ears of the believer. What are you hearing? What has your focus? In order to maintain the fullness of your heart, you have to give your attention to the Word of God. You have to read it, hear it preached,
and declare it out loud to yourself and to your situation. Your life has to be filled with the vibrations and reflections of God’s Word.
The eyes and the ears are the gates into the heart. The heart is the storage container of your spiritual strength. Keep your heart full of the Word. Jesus declared, “My words are spirit and they are life.” (John 6:63) As you encounter challenges in this life, you can confront them and stand against them with the force of faith freely flowing! My partner, I am praying for you!
Join Pastor Michelle at the following events:
Russellville Christian Center-“Ladies Agape” Conference at
305 Lake Front Dr, Russellville, AR 72802
Friday, November 6th at 7:00 p.m.
Please call to register: (479) 968-7965 or email rcc@rccenter.org
“Today’s Ladies”
At Faith Builders International Church – 8390 Peoria St, De Soto, KS 66018
Tuesday, November 10th at 7:00 p.m. No registration required.
“Build Your Faith” Conference
At Family Church Pine Bluff – 2500 Hwy 104, Pine Bluff, AR 71602
Friday, November 20th at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 21st from 10:00 a.m. until noon
Admission is free and open to the public. Doors will open an hour prior to event. Seating is on a first-come basis.
