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Proverbs 23:26; Luke 6:45; Proverbs 23:7; 4:23; Matthew 12:33-35; [Proverbs 23:26]; I Timothy 1:5; Matthew 23:27, 28; Philippians 2:5; Psalm 119:11; Psalm 1:1-3; Matthew 6:19-21; Psalm 119:162; Psalm 10:17; 27:14; 73:26; 86:10-12; 119:2, 7, 10, 32, 34, 36, 80; 141:3, 4; II Thessalonians 3:5

God's desire is to have all of our heart so we may enjoy sweet fellowship with Him. As the quality of a man's physical life is dependent upon the health of his physical heart, so the quality of his spiritual life is dependent upon the health of his spiritual heart. We need good food and proper exercise for a healthy physical heart. In the same fashion, for a healthy spiritual heart we need good food and exercise of a spiritual nature.

What we put into our minds, treasure and retain in our hearts ultimately will manifest itself in our words and actions. Our life will give testimony of what we have inside our heart. In the Bible, "heart" refers to our personal life. We are the sum and substance of our thoughts. Our lives reflect what we have fed upon mentally and retain in our hearts. In other words, we are what we think. What we put into our minds, and ultimately in our hearts, will come out. That is why God instructs us to guard our hearts with all diligence. The simple formula is – think, say, do. It is a law just like gravity. What you think about is what you will talk about and act upon.

God asks us for all our heart. The "heart" is the source for man's motives, will and desires. God looks deeper than the outside actions of an individual. He searches and ponders the heart. It is impossible to live pure lives until we have pure hearts. It is God's desire that we be conformed to the image of His son. How do we do that? We allow the same thoughts to be in our mind as Christ did. His thoughts were the thoughts of the Word and he always did the will of the Father.

We must hide God's Word in our hearts, first and foremost so we can have fellowship with Him. Hiding God's Word requires more than a casual reading. It involves meditation -- giving serious thought and consideration to the truths God reveals in His Word. To do so requires discipline. What do you deem to be most important in your life? What is it you value most? That is what you will think about. We must discipline ourselves to value God's Word so we can put it into our hearts.

In the scriptures, we discover the heart of our God and Father and learn of His love for us. We are instructed, warned, reproved, corrected, comforted and encouraged. In this manner, we condition our heart with good treasure which will bring forth good fruit in what we think, say and do.


#235 Guarding Your Heart -- June 3, 2001 ©2001 / Steven A. Michels 54:56 minutes
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"Guarding Your Heart" - Rev. Steve Michels Proverbs 23:26; Luke 6:45; Proverbs 23:7; 4:23; Matthew 12:33-35; [Proverbs 23:26]; I Timothy 1:5; Matthew 23:27, 28; Philippians 2:5; Psalm 119:11; Psalm 1:1-3; Matthew 6:19-21; Psalm 119:162; Psalm 10:17; 27:14; 73:26; 86:10-12; 119:2, 7, 10, 32, 34, 36, 80; 141:3, 4; II Thessalonians 3:5 God's desire is to have all of our heart so we may enjoy sweet fellowship with Him. As the quality of a man's physical life is dependent upon the health of his physical heart, so the quality of his spiritual life is dependent upon the health of his spiritual heart. We need good food and proper exercise for a healthy physical heart. In the same fashion, for a healthy spiritual heart we need good food and exercise of a spiritual nature. What we put into our minds, treasure and retain in our hearts ultimately will manifest itself in our words and actions. Our life will give testimony of what we have inside our heart. In the Bible, "heart" refers to our personal life. We are the sum and substance of our thoughts. Our lives reflect what we have fed upon mentally and retain in our hearts. In other words, we are what we think. What we put into our minds, and ultimately in our hearts, will come out. That is why God instructs us to guard our hearts with all diligence. The simple formula is – think, say, do. It is a law just like gravity. What you think about is what you will talk about and act upon. God asks us for all our heart. The "heart" is the source for man's motives, will and desires. God looks deeper than the outside actions of an individual. He searches and ponders the heart. It is impossible to live pure lives until we have pure hearts. It is God's desire that we be conformed to the image of His son. How do we do that? We allow the same thoughts to be in our mind as Christ did. His thoughts were the thoughts of the Word and he always did the will of the Father. We must hide God's Word in our hearts, first and foremost so we can have fellowship with Him. Hiding God's Word requires more than a casual reading. It involves meditation -- giving serious thought and consideration to the truths God reveals in His Word. To do so requires discipline. What do you deem to be most important in your life? What is it you value most? That is what you will think about. We must discipline ourselves to value God's Word so we can put it into our hearts. In the scriptures, we discover the heart of our God and Father and learn of His love for us. We are instructed, warned, reproved, corrected, comforted and encouraged. In this manner, we condition our heart with good treasure which will bring forth good fruit in what we think, say and do.