Series: Renewal
Proverbs 4:23 ESV
Psalm 119:9-16 ESV
Looking back to my childhood and to my children’s childhood I don’t remember a time when the keeping your heart or protecting your heart was a subject the Christian community taught. Granted it may have only not been taught in our corner of the universe, but it seems to me like it should have been taught.
In Proverbs 4:23, wise King Solomon wrote , “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
The key element Solomon advises is to guard your heart.
Many of us can remember a time, or times when we were hurt as children. I remember the first time someone I trusted crossed a line.
I was friends with a girl my age who lived down the street from me. We were both getting ready to enter sixth grade in the Fall.
She was very tall for her age and I’ve always been extremely short. Up until that time, I did not perceive that being a problem.
One summer day we were outside playing and she found a snake. To say I hated snakes is an understatement. I really hated (hate) snakes. When she found the snake I made my viewpoint on snakes abundantly clear.
She laughed and told me I had to hold the snake.
I was naive and I simply told her I would not hold the snake. She persisted. So…I told her I would never touch the snake.
She started to wrestle me to the ground and I told her if she made me hold the snake I would never speak to her again. In other words I meant business.
She made me hold the snake.
I never spoke to her again.
In hindsight when she found the snake I should have gone home immediately. By trusting her I did not guard my heart.
The snake incident was a life lesson for me. Since that day no one has ever bullied me into doing something I didn’t want to do.
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Psalm 119:9-16 from the second letter of the Hebrew Alphabet ‘Beth’ we are given clues how we can guard our heart:
Psalm 119:9 says “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.”
Knowing God’s word, living God’s word, and speaking God’s word guards our heart. That is not only because we speak God’s word expecting another to listen and receive. It means much more! When we speak God’s word, the Spirit of God stands with us, intercedes for us, and protects us.
God’s word IS the Word of God.
Psalm 119:10 says, “With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!”
The commandments of God, found in God’s word are right and true. We can count on them and ask God to teach us how to seek God.
In Psalm 119:11 we read, “ I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
God’s Word protects us from sin. Memorize God’s Word and keep it close.
In Psalm 119:12 we learn,
“Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes!”
The statues of God’s Word are immovable and timeless. They provide boundaries for life.
Psalm 119:13 says,
“With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth.”
Declaring the Word of God by speaking God’s Word proclaims the truth of God.
Psalm 119:14, “In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.”
Giving a testimony of or from God’s Word is your personal story about how God’s Word has changed your life.
Psalm 119:15 “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.”
Meditating on the precepts of God’s Word enable us to keep our eyes on God.
Psalm 119:16 “I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.”
Remembering God’s Word and especially committing it to memory is a delight to God.
We often think we learn and use God’s Word to help us, but it’s much more than that! When we connect to God’s Word, it brings God great joy!
Spiritual Practice: Choose One
Choose one verse from Psalm 119:10-16 to focus on today.
In God, Deborah
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