Many years ago, I had the privilege of meeting an incredible couple that God used to lead a powerful revival in South America. Around two hundred thousand young people in one city had given up everything to follow Christ.
We chatted as the pair shared their hearts. Their love and dedication made a lasting impact on me. They saw the call of God on my life and my hunger to be used by the Lord so they prayed for me before they returned to their country.
They left me with one piece of advice: if you want to be used by God, guard your heart. I have never forgotten those words. Proverbs 4:23 reads,“Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.” (Amplified)
TOP PRIORITY
God says that above every possession or talent, and above every relationship or responsibility, we must guard our hearts. We must keep an eagle eye on the state of our souls.
More than you watch over your home, your family, your career and even your own body, God is asking you and I to take care of our hearts.
The New Living Translation expresses the verse like this: “Guard your heart above all else for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23
Your heart determines your destiny. The state of your soul establishes what your future will look like. It is not your education or your upbringing that decides your future. It’s your heart that sets your course.
AN OPPORTUNITY
God is GREAT and we are made in His image. This world needs great leaders, great fathers, great mothers, great scientists, great teachers, great businesspeople and great ministers. This world needs great people who can be salt and light.
In the movies, producers recruit ‘extras’. They help make a scene look real, they add depth to a frame which means that the real stars can shine. When God made mankind, He did not create any of us to be extras. We are all supposed to shine.
GREATNESS
Each and every one of us is significant. The Lord wants to raise you up and release you into your full potential. He wants you to be great. However, your heart will determine how your year turns out.
When we have unresolved issues or hidden hurts that hinder us, we limit ourselves and delay true fulfilment. While our hearts are hampered by insecurities or worries about what people think, we hold ourselves back.
The truth is that nearly every one of us has issues we need to deal with for us to become our best. I invite you to allow the Lord to do a new work in your heart. Come along (and keep coming) to Healed for Life events and read our books. God will dig deep and set you up for lasting success.
Dear Pstr Jo, Yes, so true: guard our hearts! I have been working on this at a more conscious level since reading your book, the 30-Day Detox for your Soul. So far, the results are amazing…praise be to God! I am feeling so much lighter (unburdened), happier and more joyful in my waiting – because I know everything will turn out as it should. All I need to do is keep guarding my heart.
Once we allow the healing, it is so much easier to do this than to battle, wring our hands with worry etc. We can all guard our hearts.