Devotionals: Active Word - July 4, 2011

Devotionals www.crosswalk.com Active Word - July 4, 2011 4 Jul 2011, 5:00 am    July 4 It starts with the heart Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV) Americans spend a lot on security. Whether it’s the estimated $40 billion we pay each year towards our public police force or the $90 billion that’s spent annually on some form of private security, it’s clear we want protection and safety. And as stewards of what God has entrusted us with, we should. But are we protecting the most important things? Are we safeguarding that which has the greatest value in life? Our homes, our cars, our bank accounts…these things are important and need to be protected. But their value pales in comparison to the importance of our hearts. That’s the truth we’re confronted with in Proverbs 4:23, which tells us to keep our heart with all diligence, because it’s the source of all life. In the Hebrew, the word “keep” means to protect something the way a sentinel would stand guard at the gates of a city. It’s with that same sense of diligence that we’re to guard our hearts. So what do we allow in there? Are the gates wide open for anything to wander in and establish itself? Or do we examine and inspect everything that tries to make its way into the wellspring of our being? Our honest answer to these questions will go a long way in defining us. The degree to which we protect our hearts will determine our thoughts, words, and actions. It was Jesus who told us that a good heart brings forth good, and an evil heart brings forth evil (Luke 6:45). Why? Because once again, the heart is the source of all life. It all starts with the heart, which is why we need to protect and guard it above all else. Think About It… What does this passage reveal to me about God? What does this passage reveal to me about myself? Based on this, what changes do I need to make? What is my prayer for today? SPECIAL OFFER New 365 Devotional Volume 2 God's mercy is new every day. That's because it's needed daily. So to help you walk through a fresh new day, the Active Word has put together this second volume of the 365 Devotional.  Our hope in creating this series of devotionals, is to help you connect with God's Word 365 days a year. And the best thing is, you can start any day of the year. Stay in step with God's Word, His will, and learn to live out your faith, daily.   You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed.