I love the cyclical effect of God’s word in our lives! As we respond to His word, He responds to us. As He draws us to Himself, our hearts are drawn to respond to back to Him.
It’s a beautiful cycle of God’s hand in our lives as we choose to bring Him into focus as we walk through our day.
Here is one of my favorite examples of this.
God tells me…
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
Proverbs 4:23
In other words I need to tend to my heart and be the gatekeeper of it… being careful what attitudes I nurse, what thoughts I allow to make paths in my mind, what images and words I allow media entertainment to deposit there. The essence of my life springs from my heart. When my heart is at peace, peace springs from within me. When my heart is flooded with anxiety, anger, or edginess that is what will spring forth. My entire life is affected by the wellspring of my heart.
Then God tells me exactly how HE will guard my heart and mind and help me tend to the wellspring of my heart.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 4:4-6
Prayer & reflection:
Lord God,
Today I choose to guard my heart by turning my focus to You and rejoicing in all You are to me.
Today I choose to be aware of Your constant presence with me and to allow Your presence to impact my responses with a gentleness of spirit.
Today I choose to see my worries as a call to prayer and to present each one to You.
Today I choose to live thankfully knowing You are able to handle all that concerns me today.
Today, as I choose to guard my heart, I praise You that Your peace, which is beyond understanding, will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
What a beautiful circle. Thank you Lord Jesus, for Your amazing grace and peace.
I pray this in Your powerful name, amen.
by Gail Rodgers
Used by Permission
Further Reading
• Peace or Panic?
• Fully Surrender to the Lord
• Salvation Explained
Can you look back over your life and see instances of God’s protection? My junior year of college I was fascinated by a movement of Christians. Some of my friends decided to spend the summer at the movement’s largest church and be discipled. When I tried to do the same every door closed. A second opportunity surfaced, which was spending the summer in Brazil. In this case every door swung open. Decades later I saw how God protected me. The movement became a dangerous and oppressive cult. The time in Brazil introduced me to grace—freeing and joyful.