En Garde!

Be careful what you think,
    because your thoughts run your life.

Proverbs 4:23 

 

Ever wonder why Jesus said, "You have heard it said 'Don't <insert sin here> but I say to you if you think about it, you have done it"?  Why would Jesus want us to guard our minds?  What's the big deal if I'm so angry that I wish someone was dead, as long as I don't actually kill them?  What's wrong with looking at that bikini babe as long as I don't DO anything?  What's Jesus' problem with my thinking?

 

Consider this fact, every single action we physically do begins with a thought.  AND consider this, many of us will give voice to our thoughts which then spreads our thoughts to others.

 

Be very careful what goes into your mind, because at some point it WILL come out (and usually when you really don't want it to). 

Be Not Complacent!

"Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong."

1 Corinthians 16:13

One of the duties I hated being assigned was Guard Duty.  It came in many configurations such as "Fire Watch", or "Perimeter Watch" but it always meant  the same thing, having to be on the alert while everyone else got to relax.  It that I would be awakened during the night to get dressed (full gear) and report to the Sergeant of the Watch and then came the tedium of watching for a threat we just knew would never come.  Until it did!

I remember one night, we were on a training mission, had dug tandem foxholes and were settling in when our First Sergeant made his rounds to check on us.  He reminded us that to "while your buddy sleeps stay on guard, in two hours wake your buddy up and you get two hours of sleep."  We just knew this was an exercise and nothing was going to happen so we didn't take our First Sergeant's warning seriously.  Next morning, our Captain called us to formation.  There, neatly laid out beside him, were several weapons that had been taken from sleeping sentries during the night.  He told us, "when I call your weapon number, you will step forward and receive punishment!"  

The attacks in France and those in Kenya were devastating!  They were demoralizing!  They have revealed that we face a very real and dangerous threat!  We cannot become complacent if we want to remain safe.  We cannot fall into the sense of "This will NEVER happen to us" because it will come like a thief in the night.

Paul tells us to BE ON GUARD!  
He reminds us to STAND FIRM IN YOUR FAITH!
He calls us to BE COURAGEOUS!
And we are called to BE STRONG!

These are our Marching Orders! Take them seriously!

Guard Your Heart!

Guard your heart above all else,
    for it determines the course of your life.

~Proverbs 4:23 

What is the focus of your life? Is it your wallet?  Perhaps it's your job?  Maybe even your family?  Or is it the weekend?

Have you ever done a half-hearted job or just enough to get by and then wonder why someone else got the accolades or promotion?  Because your heart wasn't in the project!

Proverbs 23:7 reminds us that "As a man thinks, so is he."  

Want to be a better spouse?  Make your spouse the most important earthly relationship in your life and make that relationship your offering to God!  

Want to be noticed (positively) at work? Remember that you work for God and make your efforts your offering to Him!

You see, we will reflect our hearts! I've said it before and I'll share it again: "What's in your well comes up in your bucket!"  Want your life to be better? Then focus on the positive instead of drowning yourself in the negative sludge!  Yes, it will take a LOT of effort to change perspective.  No, it will not be instantaneous.  BUT, your efforts will be rewarded! 

You reflect your heart!  And you determine what you let into your heart to be reflected.  Guard your heart!!!