Passage of the Day:
This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” 9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10 “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve,” Jeremiah 17:5-10.
Reflection:
If you’re the kind of person who wears their emotions on their sleeve, you’ve probably said something that you’ve regret. In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis writes about four Cardinal Virtues that are available to anyone on earth. One of these virtues is temperance, the ability to go a certain distance, but no further to avoid sinning. If what the prophet Jeremiah says about the human heart is true, this emotional organ is hard to control. Controlling your heart may require a helping hand from an accountability group or friend willing to express tough love.
Prayerful Action:
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. 18 The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever protects their master will be honored. 19 As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart, Proverbs 27:17-19.
Restoring Your Heart:
In this woke culture that persists throughout the United States, holding someone accountable for wrong actions, inappropriate behavior and immature responses often backfires. Rather than address a concern in a biblical manner, Matthew 18:15-20, legal action is taken upon those trying to address a wayward heart. May the words of King Solomon in the above passage speak to you about guarding and protecting your heart, Proverbs 4:23.
Song of the Day:
The lyrics to A Different Kind of Free is an example of what can happen when Christians begin to control their heart with God’s help. While every journey of faith is full of rocky roads and tough times, placing your trust in the Lord can put you back on track with the Holy Spirit.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 