I often recall Proverbs 4:23. We are to guard our hearts with all diligence. Why? It is our belief center. If what we believe about ourselves does not line up with Scripture, then we have believed a lie. We are ensnared.

The devil sends fiery dart lies hoping he can get them to penetrate into our belief system. I learned in 1993 that not all my thoughts were of my own origin. I had let fiery darts penetrate by believing them and making them my own.

The enemy seeks to set up inner strongholds. Fiery darts are outside, but when we allow them in, they become an internal war against us. Accusations, self-blame, and false identities are the fruit. Be a fruit inspector. Does your conduct bear fruit that glorifies the Lord? Our intimate communion with the Lord exposes our true heart’s beliefs.

Fast forward. A few years ago a friend drove me to the store and I tried on shoes that fit. Now I needed another pair. I called and the owner answered. I told him the shoe I wanted. His words shocked me. “I remember you. We mailed several pairs of shoes to you. I’m not going to do it again. You have to come into the store.” My interactions in 2017 left a bad taste in his mouth.

How is your conduct? Are others spiritually influenced or turned off? 1 Peter 1:15 says, “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” Titus 2:12 says, “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.”

Titus 3:8 says, “…be careful to maintain good works. These are good and profitable to men.” Verse 14 says, “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.”

Titus is a good example of how to live in exemplary conduct. I love Paul’s words of a pattern of good works. Titus 2:7-8 says, “In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.”

I was shocked into conviction the other day. After my 2017 brain injury I could not drive, travel far, or be on my computer until October 2018. I desperately needed a pair of shoes. I called a store in the closest city and ordered a pair my size. When they arrived they were way too small. I called and explained and they sent me a different style and size.

Our conduct’s influences those in the marketplace ~  in person or over the phone. We might only encounter them briefly. However our conduct, righteous or unrighteous, will be remembered.

When I think about His word being God-breathed, my mind goes back to Adam. There lay this dust form of a man. Yet, when  God breathed into Adam’s nostrils, he became a fully functioning man.

Hebrews 12:4 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

I love 1 Chronicles 28:9 in the Amplified. It says, “…For the Lord searches all the wanderings of the thoughts…” He knows when our mind wanders off into lustful thoughts, worry, fear, self-will, etc. Nothing is hidden from His eyes. Hebrews 4:13.

When God’s word is hidden in our heart, it is powerful to keep us from sinning. Psalm 119:11. Verse 2 says, “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart.” 

They looked back instead of to the Lord when they faced the impossible. He delivered them from their bondage in a marvelous way,. He could be trusted in their present. Warning to us: don’t look back.

He fed them with manna for 40 years. Their clothes did not wear out. He gave them water out of a rock. Psalm 78:40-41 says, “How  often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in  the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.”

Psalm 106:14-15 says, “But they lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.” We limit the Lord when we act independent of Him. 

God-breathed words are our daily manna. He has given it to us to sustain us in our trials, to fortify our faith when we face the impossible, and to bring course correction when we veer off His path of righteousness.

2 Timothy 3;16 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” All means everything without exception.

Romans 15:4 says, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” I love to read autobiographies, and biographies because I learn first hand how they navigated through their impossibilities.

The record of the children of Israel is a biography. 1 Corinthians 10:6 says, “Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not  lust after evil things as they lusted.”

What happened at the dead end before the Red Sea? Exodus 14. They were afraid. Verse 12 says, “…it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.” How often we resist God’s way and grieve the Holy Spirit.

The enemy of our soul sets traps in unsuspecting ways. His goal is to derail us. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

When we read God-breathed Scripture, it separates the wheat from the chaff. When we hang out with ungodly folks, their chaff gets into our minds. This applies to relationships but also who we listen to. Our media is full of propaganda that is designed to lead astray. Be careful little ears what you hear.

Ephesians 2:10 says that the good works which are part of His purpose for our lives were prepared before time began. Our progressive sanctification is a journey to conform us to His image. Romans 12:2 reminds us to not allow the world to conform us to its image. 1 John 2:15 says to not love the word or the things in the world.

2 Timothy 2:20 says, “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.” As I meditated on this verse, my mind was taken back to 1 Corinthians 3:13. It says that everyone’s works will be revealed by fire.

Our fiery trials purify our faith. They burn up the wood, hay, and stubble things in our lives that have crept in to pull us away from our foundation of faith. That includes wood-type relationships. 1 Corinthian 15:33 says that evil communications corrupt good manners. 

We are influenced by those we hang out with. Be careful who you listen to. 2 Timothy 3:8 says that men of corrupt minds resist the truth. Romans 1:18 says that we suppress the truth through unrighteousness.

Paul charged Timothy with words that are timeless. 2 Timothy 3:14 says, “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.” Read the word ‘must’ as all capitals with an explanation point.

In 1987 we were in another country on a short term mission trip. The people in the churches were so beaten down by their pastors. Their bones were dried up like Ezekiel 37:11. We had four pastors in our team. As they spoke God’s word, the folk’s spirits revived.

God-breathed words are the food our spirit thrives on. If anyone speaks to you in a way that defeats you, it is not the truth. God’s word builds up. It is designed according to 2 Timothy 3:17, “That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”