Saturday, April 5, 2008

the art of guarding your heart...

guarding your heart.

at first this sounds simple.
but as you experience life you begin to realize that maybe it is not as easy as it sounds.
i'm not going to speak in generic hypotheticals.
i can only right about what I have personally experienced in this area (of course leaving out all the gory dramatic details)
Here is the situation: past relationship goes really wrong.
hurt happens.
lessons are learned.
you grow from it and you move on.
(sounds pretty alright so far)
you build up walls. but not big fortressy walls... just ones that will keep your heart from mortal danger.
the question is... how do you know when to let those walls down?
to let someone see into who you are?
how can you guard your heart... but still be vulnerable?
because I am pretty good at faking vulnerabilty... this is a real issue for me.
i want to be real and genuine... and for the most part I am.
but part of me is held back.
which I don't necessarily think is a bad thing.
but I don't want to give the wrong impression of who I am.
geez... i don't even really know how to vocalize this.

here is what I have found that God's word says about guarding your heart:

it is commanded:
Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

I understand the wellspring of life part. but what about the command to guard your heart?
it doesn't say how.

then if you flip ahead a few thousand years you can read this:
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

well that makes it more clear. it basically says that God guards our hearts and our minds if we pray and leave our worries at his feet.

SWEET! That means it is up to God to protect my heart and mind. I just have to keep focused on Him and He will fill me with His peace.

SO I guess that means if I am trusting God and seeking His will... He will fill me with his peace and will guard my heart and my mind. its like prayer... peace... protection.

Father,
I know I am stuggling not with guarding my heart... but trusting you. Lord you do not work within human parameters and for that I am thankful. Please help me to trust you with my life and my heart. I know you are in control and for for that I am humbly grateful. in Jesus precious name. Amen.

1 comment:

Yvette said...

how do you know you're actually trusting? i think that's where my butt keeps getting kicked these days...