July 9th, 2024
Week 4: July 9th
Title: Guard Your Heart
By: Denise Vukmer
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life”
Proverbs 4:23, NLT
Throughout a single day, we will make thousands of decisions. If you were to spend time reflecting, can you remember what it looked like to make some of your first decisions? What clothes would you wear on the first day of school? Do you remember the first time your parents gave you the keys to the car – did you go where you told them you were going? Everyone had a friend crowd. What crowd were you attracted to? Did your decisions reflect the good in your heart or the self-centered nature that says, I know better?
Scripture reminds us that humanity has struggled with the heart's desires since the beginning. Adam and Eve were living in perfect union with God. But when tempted, rebellion against God was the path they chose. Like Adam and Eve, our hearts are susceptible to sinful thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs. Vulnerable when the focus is on self and not on God. God created each of us with a natural desire in our hearts. Created in His image, God purposed the human heart with a desire for him. When we guard our hearts, we protect ourselves from the sinful influences that can steer us away from the good that God has for us. We cannot do this on our own. We must lean into God and seek His will in all we do.
“I cannot by direct moral effort, give myself new motives. After the first few steps in the Christian life, we realize that everything which needs to be done in our souls can only be done by God” ~ C.S. Lewis
Title: Guard Your Heart
By: Denise Vukmer
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life”
Proverbs 4:23, NLT
Throughout a single day, we will make thousands of decisions. If you were to spend time reflecting, can you remember what it looked like to make some of your first decisions? What clothes would you wear on the first day of school? Do you remember the first time your parents gave you the keys to the car – did you go where you told them you were going? Everyone had a friend crowd. What crowd were you attracted to? Did your decisions reflect the good in your heart or the self-centered nature that says, I know better?
Scripture reminds us that humanity has struggled with the heart's desires since the beginning. Adam and Eve were living in perfect union with God. But when tempted, rebellion against God was the path they chose. Like Adam and Eve, our hearts are susceptible to sinful thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs. Vulnerable when the focus is on self and not on God. God created each of us with a natural desire in our hearts. Created in His image, God purposed the human heart with a desire for him. When we guard our hearts, we protect ourselves from the sinful influences that can steer us away from the good that God has for us. We cannot do this on our own. We must lean into God and seek His will in all we do.
“I cannot by direct moral effort, give myself new motives. After the first few steps in the Christian life, we realize that everything which needs to be done in our souls can only be done by God” ~ C.S. Lewis
Recent
Archive
2024
January
New Year, Fresh StartA Good Plan for the New YearCall on MeHope Has a NameHolidays in Rear ViewHolinessHow to Have our Mind TransformedNew Year, New YouA Pattern of RenewalVictory in JesusFear Knot? Fear Not.Seek the LORDBetterWhere to Place your TrustRadical GraceGenerosity God's WayThe Poor and NeedyThe Open Hand ConceptA Need that Burdens your HeartHow's Your Heart?Who Are You?Testing in the Wilderness
February
CallingDon't HideWhere You AreJust the Two of UsInvesting in the Kingdom of GodThe Golden RuleAgainst the GrainUnexplainable JoyThe Power of God's WordFollow MeThe God of the ImpossibleOut on a LimbWe All Face ItTrue JusticeGatherGood SoilDon't Put God in a BoxBe BraveCulture CheckFeed His Sheep. Love His People.Jesus Revealed
March
Jesus in His GloryNot QuantityHow Much God Loves ChildrenWhere Two or Three are GatheredLike Little ChildrenFocusAmazing GraceBeing Confronted By JesusKingdom FruitWedding AttireCome with a Hungry HeartLive and Lead Like HimTough LoveBe on your GuardKeep WatchTalentsSlow DownBeing Led by the SpiritKingdom WatchThey Are Us. We Are Them.Jesus Gave His All For UsHe is Risen, Indeed
April
The Most Important Question Ever AskedExchanging Death for a Better LifeThe Space BetweenHe's got the KeysI want to know HimJoy of the LordNeverthelessFullness of JoyFavorites"Try it, you'll like it."He Created MeHe Chose to Die for MeGod's Love for UsAn Eternal LoveNothing will SeparateThe Salt ShakerThe Word Brings HopeMeditate on God's WordA Well Lit PathEverything Wears OutEnjoy itModeration found in Contentment
Categories
Tags
no tags
No Comments