Well, for the last 2 months I have been dealing with tresspassers and the damage done to my property. I have been on the property usually 1-2 times a week, and have posted no tresspassing signs, picked up around twenty, 45 gallon bags of trash, had vehicles towed off, and replaced a gate which had been torn down.
The tresspassing has seemed to stop, and I actually enjoyed last Saturday morning sitting on the side of the river bank, fishing with several close friends on the property.
Thinking about all the time spent riding 30 miles there, and back, and all the work and time used to protect the property, the Lord hit me with a hard question:
"How much effort and time have you taken to guard and protect your heart, mind, and body?"
Uhh Oh!!
Scripture reading:
Proverbs 4:20-27(AMP)
20 My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you false and dishonest speech, and willful and contrary talk put far from you.
25 Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you.
26 Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright.
27 Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil.
One reads above in verse 23 to guard his/her heart, "for out of it flow the springs of life." Much like the time and things I did to protect my property, we have to take responsibility in making the time, and doing the things needed to protect our hearts.
As Christians, we need to be careful to focus on the things which God has planned for us. This also includes the company we keep around us, the things we say, the things we do, and particularly as men, the things we look at.
Are you joining in unwholesome talk? Are your eyes straying to pornography? Are your eating and drinking habits a sledge hammer to the Temple of God- your body?
Let me caution you, the more sin you take in, the easier it is to go back.
Father God,
Forgive me of the wasted time away from You, and putting other idols of selfishness before you. There is nothing more important than You, and there never will be. Help us to make time to study Your Word, and come to You in quiet times, seeking Your face, and the direction You have for each of us.
Help us to be examples and love others as You have loved us. May our mouths be a trumpet of victory, in spreading Your Word and plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Let our paths be straight and neither waiver to the left or to the right, but stay on Your course. Help us to lock up our hearts to those things which are not of You, and guide each of us with the Holy Spirit.
Be with our Brothers and Sisters who have asked for prayer on the board, and for those who have not. Answer their prayers and see to their needs.
Thank You Father for the love, grace, and salvation we have through Your son Jesus.
For it is in His precious and mighty name we ask, and claim these things, Amen!!
God Bless,
David B.
