scripture

God’sWay

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This is my online devotional that I write for once a month. We have many writers, so if you would like to receive these, the subscription link is at the bottom ~ Marilyn

GOD’S WAY TO PROTECT OUR HEARTS

APRIL 19 2024, WRITTEN BY MARILYN ADAMS

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.PROVERBS 4:23What happens when we fail to vigilantly guard our hearts? Here is a comparison from my own life. I had a medical condition called a leaky gut. It occurred when I was unknowingly exposed to live mold spores in my home. God created a thin barrier in our guts to prevent foreign things from getting into our bloodstream. When pathogens, viruses, or in my case environmental toxins, tear holes in that lining, harmful substances leak out. That creates a plethora of diseases.Now correlate that with our hearts. God created our hearts to hold truths from his word through meditating and memorizing. The enemy seeks to tear holes in our hearts so that they are no longer sealed with a barrier of truth.

Ephesians 6:16-17 tells us how to prevent the devil from gaining entrance to our hearts. It says, “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” The destructive hidden pathogens of unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, hatred, etc. tear holes in our hearts’ lining that affect our spiritual health.

All fiery darts are lies. If we allow them to penetrate our minds, they will set up an inner stronghold. Then the battle no longer comes from the outside, but from within our hearts.Hiding God’s word in our hearts puts holes in those inner strongholds of Satan, to weaken them. The truth we inculcate through memorizing and meditating on Scripture, causes the foundation of those strongholds to crumble.

Dear Lord, I am so grateful that you have given me your hidden word to defeat the evil designs against my faith. Thank you for giving me a powerful tool through memorizing and meditating. I love your way of effectively building strong protective barriers in my heart!

Today’s challenge: If you are not already memorizing and meditating on scripture regularly, why not start? Many people find music helps – simply search “Scripture Memory Songs” and you’ll find many online. Or download a Bible memory app. Again, you will find a number to choose from.

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Resist Enticements

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James 1:13 says that God will never tempt us to evil. Verse 14-15 says, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” James then wrote the key. Verse 16 says, “Do not be deceived…”

The enemy’s only pseudo power is through deception. Remember that God is All Powerful. 

That means, without exception, He alone has power. He has set His resurrection power within us. Ephesians 1:18 says, “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.”

The only time His power is not active is when we step out in our flesh. At that point we are walking independent of God. That is exactly why the enemy lures us with his temptations. To get us to act in our fleshly will and ways. 

God Watches Our Hearts~Part Three

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Philippians 1:27 says, “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

God’s goal is that we represent Him in every aspect of our lives. David wrote Psalm 86. Verses 11-12 say, “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart…” David was asking the Lord to make him wholehearted and single minded. What an example for us.

James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” It is good to sit before the Lord and be real. He sees right through any act. He is looking for those whose heart is loyal to Him.