A verse that people have often quoted to me regarding my relationships with guys is Proverbs 4:23:
“Guard your heart, for from it flow the springs of life.”
I’ve never known exactly what that meant . . . just that I was somehow supposed to steel myself against the very thing I wanted most.
Now, I’m not going to go into the nuances of the Hebrew words—but I do want to share a couple of things God impressed on me as I was walking through a cherry orchard talking to Him about this recently:
1. Guarding my heart does not mean protecting myself from being hurt. There’s no way I can insulate myself from any possibility of pain. Pain is a regular part of relationships in this broken world.
2. Guarding my heart does mean allowing no one access to that most central place of my affections but God. It means keeping the first commandment first—and loving Him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deut. 6:5).
If I can keep Christ central in my affections, if He is my dearest friend, if intimacy with Him is my number one pursuit, then my future husband will be one blessed guy. And, if I never marry, I will have already allowed Jesus to fill the empty places in my heart.
How about you? Are you regularly spending time sitting at Jesus’ feet getting to know Him (Luke 10:39)? Do you have a plan for pursuing intimacy with Him?
Comments
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So I decided right then and there that I would seek to know the Lord in a better way - to love Him and know Him the way He desires for me to know Him. I stopped eating lunch at work and I went to the chapel to read the Bible and pray. I haven't been able to do it everyday but most days, you will find me either in the corner of my office or in the chapel with an open Bible and a pad and pencil.
It's been a journey...I'm now in the book of Proverbs and have found myself almost on a daily basis, asking God for wisdom and instruction. It is my ultimate goal to spend the 1st hour of everyday and the last moments of everyday. with the Lord.
on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 7:55 am
on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 8:55 am
on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 9:27 am
on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 9:38 am
on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 10:04 am
on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 10:24 am
on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 11:20 am
on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 3:55 pm
God bless!
on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Jodi, i loved your letter- i can totally relate.
God bless
on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 6:55 am
I think you are so on the right track in your thinking! I have heard it taught (by Nancy and others), and also experienced it myself, and also seen it in the lives of others -- that what you said is so true:
"If I can keep Christ central in my affections, if He is my dearest friend, if intimacy with Him is my number one pursuit, then my future husband will be one blessed guy. And, if I never marry, I will have already allowed Jesus to fill the empty places in my heart."
Wise words! I know of two situations right now where women have lost husbands. Both have experienced deep emptiness. In one case, the woman radiates Christ because He keeps filling those empty places. In the other, the void has caused serious depression (she needs to allow Jesus to fill her again; if you are led of the Lord, please pray for her).
Yes, I have a plan myself to keep drawing closer to the Lord. We must truly guard our hearts and not give them over to anything or anyone that would draw us away from Christ. I can relate to Vivian above, as my life is similar to hers. Vivian, I am praying for you -- may the Lord bless you, dear one! I pray you and I will both be faithful to arise early and seek our Beloved, who is truly our lifeline!
"Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD;
his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth." (Hosea 6:3)
In His love to all you true women,
on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 8:22 am
Ginny, have you checked out www.LiesYoungWomenBelieve.com? It’s a ministry of Revive Our Hearts, and there’s a great blog there for your teenage granddaughters . . .
Jodi, I love it that you’re taking advantage of your lunch break to spend time at Jesus’ feet!
Leslie, I am praying for your friend, that she will open herself up to receive the comfort that God is so ready and willing to give to her.
Thanking Him for each of you today . . .
paula
on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 10:45 am
on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 11:08 am
on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Heather, I hope you won't mind if I write this to you here -- CONGRATS on your new baby boy! (I visited your website!) I am so happy for you. May the Lord Jesus bless you and your husband abundantly as your raise your boys for Him!
In His love,
on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I so appreciate your encouragement...I have been recently pondering the true meaning of "guarding your heart", as I desire to remain faithful to my future husband (whoever he may be) as Proverbs 31 says, "The heart of her husband does safely trust in her"....I want that to be said of me even as a single woman. And like was mentioned earlier..."if I never marry, I will have already allowed Jesus to fill the empty places in my heart."
Thank-you for this very timely blog, Jesus has used this to encourage me along my path! :)
In Christ's Love,
on Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 10:07 pm
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I found myself on a mountain at the end of my rope. Before me appeared a much larger rope that led as far as the eye could see. I had been climbing the rope that I was on for so long and it seemed to lead no where. Sometimes the climb was easy,sometimes it was hard,but it never seemed to get me anywhere. After much struggle with the rope I was on,one day I took a leap of "Faith" and grabbed onto the much larger rope. I started climbing and a change came over me. The higher I got, the stronger I got.At the same time,I became more frightened for fear of falling. I stopped a few times to catch my breath but felt compelled to keep climbing. Then I noticed the more I climbed,the less afraid I became. When I looked up, I could see the top of the mountain,I was in the clouds. I had almost reached the top. My heart was pounding my energy was high and I notice there had been a change in me that had taken place. I reach the top and stood up. What I saw, was the most incredible view I had ever seen. My mind was clear and taking in all the beauty around me. My heart was so soft,I wanted to cry. My soul had been changed and I felt like a new person. I would never look at my life the same. I reflected on the rope that I had spent my whole life on and wondered why I thought that the rope I was on would lead me to happiness. After trying to absorb this overwhelming quest, I all the sudden felt a great desire to climb back down the rope and tell others what I had experienced. As I climbed down,I saw other people on the rope. Some were up high and some had just started the climb. But many people were right in the middle not moving. Not going up nor going back down. When I got to the beginning of the rope, I started telling everyone that would listen to me about the rope that led to the top. Most people wouldn't listen to what I had to say. They were so content with climbing their own rope, which I knew would lead them no where for I had been climbing the same type of rope for so many years. Some people saw the rope I was on but were to afraid to make the leap of "Faith". They were afraid of falling. I noticed that while telling people about the rope,the place seemed dark and cold. It was until I saw the light on the mountain top that I could distinguish the difference. The individual ropes that we climb represents us living our own life trying to achieve fame,fortune and success on our own. Living life to satisfy ourselves. The leap to the other rope is the leap of "Faith" when we surrender our lives to Jesus. Give your life and Receive eternal life. The rope of life represents the hand of God.Climb it diligently and always know....God will never let you fall. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Jesus has his hand out. Grab hold of him! The climb represents the struggles that we endure. God will give you the Holy Spirit to comfort you and encourage you on your climb+++ When you reach the top of the mountain,the scales fall off your eyes. You have achieved eternal life You acknowledge that you have been Born Again and you got to go tell someone!!! The people that stop on the rope and become comfortable, represent the Luke warm Christian that God will spew out of his mouth. One is either in the dark or in the light. There is nothing in between. If you are by the door in the dark....your still in the dark. The Lord wants us to have a great passion for him and be on fire for him. When you are in the dark,your eyes adjust. When most everyone around you is in darkness,you don't know your in the dark. It is only when you step into the light that you realize what a dark place you were in. I pray that this will encourage you and others to seek the lord. Love thy Lord God with all your Heart,Soul,Mind and Strength. Please allow me to share with you HOW to love our Lord God with all your heart,soul,mind and strength.
Ray Baker
(Messenger)
followingjesus@comcast.net
on Monday, September 7, 2009 at 9:59 pm