Remember that guarding our hearts starts with what we allow into our minds. What we think about, dwell on, and focus on ultimately finds its way into our hearts, and from there, it shapes our actions.
[00:00:37] Welcome to The Bible Speaks with your host Elgin Carelock.
[00:00:42] The Bible Speaks is a daily podcast dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ,
[00:00:49] rightly dividing the word of truth, and learning how to apply it to our daily lives.
[00:00:55] You may contact Elgin at the address given at the end of the broadcast.
[00:00:59] And now, here's Elgin.
[00:01:02] Brothers and sisters, I welcome you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
[00:01:09] to another edition of Words of Inspiration,
[00:01:13] where we explore how God's Word provides wisdom for our everyday lives.
[00:01:18] And today, we will have a discussion on the topic of Guard Your Heart.
[00:01:27] Our inspiration comes from Luke, chapter 6, verse 45.
[00:01:32] And reading from the English Standard Version, it reads,
[00:01:36] The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good,
[00:01:42] and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil.
[00:01:47] For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
[00:01:53] Today's focus is on the importance of guarding our hearts.
[00:01:57] What we allow into our mind eventually takes root in our hearts,
[00:02:02] shaping our actions and our lives.
[00:02:05] If we want to live lives that are pleasing to God,
[00:02:08] we must be intentional about guarding what comes into our minds,
[00:02:12] and ultimately into our hearts.
[00:02:15] Luke 6 and 45 shows us that our actions are a direct reflection of what is stored up in our hearts.
[00:02:24] But before something reaches our hearts, it first enters through our minds.
[00:02:30] What we think about, dwell on, and allow into our minds,
[00:02:34] that our minds eventually seeps into our subconscious and down into our heart,
[00:02:40] shaping the core of who we are and how we believe.
[00:02:44] For example, if we consistently feed our minds with negativity, toxic influences,
[00:02:52] and ungodly messages, those things will find their way into our language.
[00:02:56] And when they do, they influence how we treat others and how we live.
[00:03:03] Our hearts become a reflection of what we've been feeding our minds.
[00:03:08] That's why guarding our minds is so crucial.
[00:03:12] We can't expect to live godly lives if we're filling our minds with things that pull us away from God.
[00:03:19] As believers, we're called to focus on what is pure, lovely, and honorable, as Philippians 4 and 8 tells us.
[00:03:28] What we meditate on shapes the condition of our hearts.
[00:03:33] Once something has made its way into our hearts, it becomes part of who we are.
[00:03:40] This is what Jesus means in Luke 6 and 45 when he says,
[00:03:44] Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
[00:03:47] Our words and our actions are the overflow of what's inside of us.
[00:03:54] If we want our words to reflect kindness, love, and truth,
[00:03:59] we must first ensure that our hearts are filled with those things.
[00:04:03] And that process begins with guarding what we allow into our minds.
[00:04:08] If we fill our minds with God's word, prayer, and uplifting conversations,
[00:04:15] then our hearts will overflow with goodness, and our actions will reflect God's love and character.
[00:04:22] Proverbs 4 and 23, reading from the New International Version, reinforces this idea.
[00:04:30] It reads,
[00:04:32] Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
[00:04:38] Our lives are the product of what we treasure in our hearts.
[00:04:42] When our hearts are aligned with God's truth, our actions naturally follow.
[00:04:50] Guarding your heart starts with being mindful of what you allow in your mind.
[00:04:54] And here are a few practical ways you can do that.
[00:04:59] First, monitor your inputs.
[00:05:03] Be intentional about what you watch, listen to, and read.
[00:05:07] Whether it's media, conversation, or entertainment.
[00:05:11] Ask yourself if these things are drawing you closer to God or pulling you away.
[00:05:17] Next, fill your mind with God's word.
[00:05:22] Scripture is a powerful tool in guiding your heart.
[00:05:26] Meditating on God's word helps renew your mind and keep your heart aligned with his will.
[00:05:33] Psalm 119 verse 11 says,
[00:05:36] I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not send against you.
[00:05:42] Next, practice discernment.
[00:05:45] Not everything we hear or see is beneficial, even if it seems harmless.
[00:05:51] Pray for discernment and wisdom to recognize what is good and what is not.
[00:05:58] James 1 and 5 tells us,
[00:06:00] If any of you lack wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
[00:06:11] And finally, surround yourself with Godly influence.
[00:06:15] The people you surround yourself with can greatly impact your mindset.
[00:06:20] Surround yourself with those who encourage you in your faith and challenge you to grow in Christ.
[00:06:27] Let's remember that guarding our hearts start with what we allow in our minds.
[00:06:33] What we think about, dwell on, and focus on ultimately finds its way into our heart, and from there it shapes our actions.
[00:06:43] If we want to live lives that honor God, we must be diligent in guarding what comes into our minds.
[00:06:50] As Luke 6 and 45 reminds us, the condition of our hearts determine the quality of our words and actions.
[00:06:57] Let us make sure we are filling our hearts with what is good, what is true, and what is pleasing to God.
[00:07:08] Brothers and sisters, I thank you for spending time with me on today, and I look forward to our conversations on tomorrow.
[00:07:15] Until then, God bless.
[00:07:24] The Bible Speaks is sponsored by C Squared Realty and New Gen Construction Group to help spread the gospel to the corners of the earth.
[00:07:35] If anything you've heard poured into your life, please share it with someone.
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[00:07:54] You may contact Elgin at P.O. Box 5582, Ocala, Florida 34478, or by email at thebiblespeaksonline at gmail.com.