FAITHFULWORD.ORG | TEACHINGS

Psalm 119:9-11; Proverbs 6:20-28; Psalm 25:4-6, 20, 21; Psalm 37:37; 112:1-4; Proverbs 10:29; 11:3, 6; 11:11; 15:8; 16:17, 18; 21:29; 4:23; Luk3 6:45; Matthew 12:33; 6:19-21; II Corinthians 10:3-5, I Corinthians 10:12-14; II Corinthians 1:9, 10; James 4:10; I Peter 5:5—11; Psalm 26:1-12; Psalm 41:12

God’s blessings are upon those who walk in the integrity of God’s Words. The Psalmist declares that by taking heed to God’s Word, which can only happen when a person is studying and hearing the Word, a man or woman can be cleansed. People cannot cleanse their own way. They need God’s help. The Psalmist further declares he hid the word in his heart that he might not sin against God. He did so in order to walk uprightly and be in fellowship with God. He did not simply put the word into his brain, but in his heart. The things we treasure are the things we choose to hold and keep in our hearts. The Word is like a lamp guiding our feet. It dispels the darkness and shows us the correct pathway. By having light in the dark we can move with confidence.

None of us ever grow up to be totally mature. We will always need reproof, correction and instruction. The reproof points out to us what is wrong, the correction tells us how to get back to doing what is right and the instruction directs us onto the right path on which we can have integrity and uprightness of heart. In so doing, we can claim the blessings of those who walk this way. We cannot afford to play with evil — doing so for even a little allows the devil to get a foothold.

The heart is the innermost part of our being, the real us, and from where all the issues of life emanate. For this reason, we are instructed by God’s Word to guard the heart with all diligence. We are to decide what we will allow to go into our hearts. What we think about will be those things we treasure. We must choose what we will retain in our hearts from among all the things we experience, see and think throughout the day. The scriptures do not declare that God will guard our hearts for us if we ask Him to — freedom of will is involved and we must decide what is important. The simple formula is — “Think, Say, Do.” What we really consider valuable, hold in our heart, and think about all the time, is our treasure. Our actions are determined by what is in our hearts.

By making a decision every day to consider the blessings of God, live a holy life, endeavor to be Christlike and glorify our Father, we will be blessed and our lives will be easier. We are in a spiritual battle. The battlefield is carried out in our minds where we choose between our own way or God’s ways. We win the battles one thought at a time by choosing to think, say and do the things of God or the things of the world. What a blessing it is to us when we choose God’s way and walk in uprightness of heart and integrity.