What can we do when we’re confronted with temptations around us or unwelcome thoughts and emotions within us? How can we guard against such “unwanted invaders”? Throughout this 6 day plan, we will consider five practical ways in which we can guard the place where the battle will ultimately be won: our hearts.
THE ONE THING DESIRED
Day 1
Scriptures: Proverbs 4:23, Psalms 55:9-10
Driving past the lake one cold, wintry morning, I noticed a sign placed at its edge: Stay Off Ice. I thought how tempting it would be for children to venture onto the ice, longing for an exciting winter experience: I hope they see and obey that sign; they won’t be able to tell from the look of the lake if the ice is dangerously thin or not!
My thoughts then turned, however, to the necessity and benefit of signs and boundaries in general, especially as laid out for us in the Word of God as it relates to our relationship with God. Whether to keep us off of winter’s “thin ice” – that which is life-threatening – or to keep us from summer’s “lush grass” – where ease and laziness can set in – boundaries are always for our good and our benefit, whether we can discern the danger ahead or not.
But have you considered another type of boundary, one not imposed from without but rather from within; the one that we are to erect? Arguably the most important one of all? The one not placed around a frozen lake but rather around our hearts?
Proverbs 4:23 tells us that above all else, we must guard our hearts. We are to watch over our hearts, guarding against dangers from without and temptations from within.
I am reminded of a declaration made by David in Psalm 55:9-10, where we read that the “real danger” is what’s happening within: within a nation, a city, or a single heart.
However well the wall is patrolled, it does little good if the city is overrun by wickedness.
Likewise, however many boundaries and “Stay Off Ice” signs I erect or adhere to in my life, if they only address outward behavior, my heart will be vulnerable to attacks and susceptible to temptations, and great will be my downfall.
While external boundaries are prudent and necessary, we must not neglect the guarding of our hearts, minds and emotions. This is where the battle will ultimately be won.
What does this look like, practically speaking? Over the next five days, let us consider the acronym
G-U-A-R-D.
Day 2
Scriptures: James 1:5, Nehemiah 2:1-5
G – Go to God in prayer
When a storm begins to brew within our hearts through unwelcome emotions, troubling circumstances, or nagging temptations, we need wisdom: wisdom on how to proceed and wisdom to understand how best to guard against these unwanted invaders.
The good news is that wisdom is promised to be poured out upon those who ask (see James 1:5).
At the first sign of a troubled, anxious, or tempted heart: pray.
Your prayer need not be lengthy or filled with flowery words. In fact, when asked by the king what he wanted, we are told in one breath that Nehemiah prayed to God and in the very next breath that he gave an answer to the king!
“Increase our faith!” the disciples cried after Jesus’ teaching.
“Lord, help me!” begged the Canaanite woman, whose daughter was suffering.
“Be our help!” the psalmist exclaimed, when all seemed hopeless.
In each scenario, it took just three simple words to move beyond themselves, their sufficiency, their perspective, or their wisdom and reach out to the heart – and for the help – of God.
John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrims Progress, wrote, “It should comfort your heart if the anguish of your spirit keeps your words few. The Holy Spirit stirs up your heart in groans and sighs so much the more vehement when your mouth is hindered. Though your mouth is hindered, your spirit is not.”
In my weariness, “Be my strength.”
In my longing, “Be my satisfaction.”
In my frustration, “Be my peace.”
In my sorrow, “Be my joy.”
In my conviction, “Be my cleansing.”
In my fatigue, “Be my rest.”
In my anxiety, “Be my calm.”
If your words are few today but your troubles many, if your heart is overwhelmed but your prayers feel lacking, take heart. He hears your every word and cry. Even when it’s few. And when words won’t come, He hears your every sigh. Directed upward, hearts looking and longing and leaning toward Him, even “three words” – or a single sigh – reach the heart of our Heavenly Father.
Day 3
Scriptures: 1 Samuel 1:6-16, Psalms 23:3, Psalms 55:22, Psalms 62:8, Psalms 103:14, Luke 6:45, John 6:68, 2 Corinthians 1:3, Philippians 4:7
U – Unburden your heart before Him
When Hannah’s heart was provoked and needed to be guarded against the angst caused by her rival Peninnah, she did what we, too, must do to guard our hearts. In prayer, she poured her anguish out to her God.
Oh, that we would put this pouring into practice when facing “Peninnah’s” of our own – our own unwanted invaders!
Psalm 62:8 specifically refers to the pouring out of one’s tears and complaints. How often do we find ourselves pouring out our tears and complaints to all BUT Him? The truth is, we may find that once we pour our heart out to Him, we don’t even need to pour it out to others.
Imagine what would happen if we first took all that caused our tears and complaints – all our heart’s “unwelcome invaders” and poured it out to the Lord. Another word for “pouring” is “spilling” or “spewing.” I can think of a number of times when I have either “spewed” my complaints onto someone else or been the recipient of someone else’s “spewing.” Imagine the pain, regret, and disappointment that would be spared if we first took those tears (and words) to Him!
Spurgeon described it as an “unloading” of our hearts at Jesus’ feet. What a mistake it is to “unload” my heart anywhere else until I have first unloaded it before Him. Who else knows my frame and weakness, as He does? (Psalm 103:14) Who else holds the words of eternal life, as He does? (John 6:68) Who else offers the compassion and mercies needed in times of my greatest sorrow, as He does? (2 Corinthians 1:3) Who else gently convicts and exposes my faults while restoring my soul, as He does? (Psalm 23:3) Who else, truly who else, should I lay my heart before, pouring out my soul, unloading my cares, spilling out my tears and complaints, and dealing with the unwanted invaders of my heart?
Jesus taught that out of the overflow of the mouth, the heart speaks. (Luke 6:45) Might we be able to gauge how much we pour out to Him (or don’t pour out to Him) by what we feel necessary to pour out to others?
“Ye people, pour out your heart before him. Ye to whom his love is revealed, reveal yourselves to him. His heart is set on you, lay bare your hearts to him.” (unknown)
In Psalm 55:22, we are told to cast our burdens on the Lord. Whether big or small, whatever may creep into our hearts that does not belong, remember: we are not only invited, we are commanded to give them to the Lord. In doing so, peace, His peace, can once again flood our hearts.
This peace given by God Himself will act as a guard upon our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7).
Day 4
Scriptures: Matthew 4:1-11, Ephesians 6:17, 2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12
A – Arm yourself with His truth
Just as important as unloading our cares before Him in this quest to guard our hearts is the process of steeping ourselves in His truth.
If through prayer we can obtain peace, it is through the Word of God we can obtain perspective: His perspective.
Through His Word we are reminded of the truth regarding any temptation as well as its looming consequence; we are reminded of His care, which is the cure for our anxieties and other unwanted invaders; and we behold His character – who He is and by His grace, who He has made us to be.
Jesus exemplified the power of the Word of God when fighting against the lies of the enemy when three times He replied to Satan, “It is written.”
Likewise, our answer to combatting every temptation or would-be invader of the heart is found in His Word.
What lies are trying to invade your heart today? Will you take the time to “think about what you’re thinking about” and align your thoughts with His Word?
It is through the comparison of our thoughts with His truth that we can identify what has crept in, what is not true, and what we need to reject. As we read His Word, meditate upon it, and arm ourselves with it, we will more easily identify – and be victorious over – the unwelcome invaders.
The unwelcome invaders of our hearts usually come through the thoughts we allow ourselves to think in three main categories:
-what we think about God
-what we think about others
-what we think about ourselves
As we arm ourselves with the truth in these three categories, we will find it is much harder for unwanted invaders to infiltrate our hearts. We will read more about these categories in tomorrow’s devotional.
Day 5
Scriptures: Romans 12:2, Psalms 35:10, 2 Samuel 7:23, 2 Samuel 7:18
R – Renew your mind
Once we are armed with the truth and His perspective, we need to make it ourperspective by renewing our mind, one thought at a time, one day at a time, and one situation at a time. And when the battle for our heart is intense, we must remind ourselves of His truth one moment at a time!
This constant replacing of our thoughts with His truth is how we ultimately guard, or keep watch over, our hearts.
Three simple questions for us to ask, as David did, that will settle our hearts and give us proper perspective as it relates to God, other believers, and ourselves, whether we are facing unwelcome invaders due to difficult situations, difficult people, or deceptive lies are the following:
1) “Who is like you, Lord?” (Psalm 35:10)
2) “Who is like your people?” (2 Samuel 7:23)
3) “Who am I?” (2 Samuel 7:18)
In Psalm 35, David was surrounded by those who opposed him. His enemies had tried to trip him up and entrap him. Instead of lashing out, however, David lifted up his voice. He said, “My whole being will exclaim, ‘Who is like you, Lord?’”
Regardless of what we may be facing today, let us first and foremost ask, with David, “Who is like the Lord?” In doing so, David reminded himself of who his God truly was – how great and powerful in deed, able and willing to save, near and aware of all that was taking place both around him and to him. That God is my God! That God is your God! There is none like Him.
Conversely, in 2 Samuel 7, David was no longer surrounded by enemies but rather was now “settled in his palace” as the Lord had “given him rest.” David’s desire turned to that of building a “house” for the Lord to dwell in. However, that was not the Lord’s plan and as the Lord, through Nathan, described in detail the plan He DID have for David and David’s family, we read, “Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed…”
The first response David had was, “Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” David was in awe of the merciful plan of God. While it was not HIS original plan or request, it was GOD’S plan. You see, David’s plan was to do something FOR God. God, instead, showed David what HE would do for him.
Likewise, when we meditate upon and mull over all that the Lord has done for us and His saving grace, limitless mercy, unfailing love and faithfulness, we can’t help but respond as David did: Who am I, Lord, to be so highly favored? This will surely humble the proudest of hearts (one end of the spectrum of unwanted invaders, causing us to be full of pride) as well as lift up the despondent (the other end of the spectrum of unwanted invaders, causing us to be without hope).
Finally, as David expressed in Psalm 35, “Who is like you, Lord?” we see David again in awe of Him in 2 Samuel when he declared, “There is no one like you!” immediately followed by, “And who is like your people?”
David was not only in awe of God and the grace he had personally received, but he was also in awe of God’s redemptive plan for His people: people He had redeemed from slavery to be His very own, a people through whom He planned to make His name great.
And isn’t that His plan for His people today? (See 1 Peter 2:9-10)
That brother, that sister, yes, THAT one – is God’s special possession, whom He has created, chosen, and redeemed.
Three simple – yet powerful – questions to keep in mind when facing unwelcome heart-invaders due to difficult circumstances, difficult people, or deceptive lies are:
Who is like the Lord? Who is like His people? Who am I?
Day 6
Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, Psalms 138:8
D – Dedicate this battle of heart to the Lord
I am always amazed at how the Lord weaves His good purposes even into my hardest fought heart battles, namely in the form of offering encouragement to another who is going through something similar. On the other side of the battle, I am able to offer empathy and understanding in both my words and through my prayers.
Once the would-be invaders have been dealt with and peace has returned to my heart, the final way to guard it is to dedicate the battle to the Lord for His glory. This prevents any shadow from setting in afterwards that is so often caused by doubt and shame, while simultaneously being confident that He does not waste one single thing, including the internal struggles or afflictions I face.
Many years ago I learned the valuable lesson that whether or not something was considered a waste truly depended upon the individual.
My husband’s grandmother was the most resourceful woman I have ever known. She had a way to repurpose everything that passed through her hands. That which seemed to me to be empty, used, ripped, or broken was to her as good as new, ready for a new purpose. Watching her use everything/waste nothing lifestyle began to change my own as I would think, “How would Grandma Faye use this?”
Likewise, when we catch the heart of God as expressed through the words of Paul – that God comforts us so that we might comfort others – we learn that He can use everything that we walk through for His glory, our good, and the good of others. We begin to look at the battles through which we’ve walked and the would-be-unwanted-invaders of heart differently as we consider, “How might the Lord use this? How can I glorify Him? What have I learned that I can share with others? Who might I be able to pray for or encourage?”
So, do we need “Stay Off Ice” signs and other boundaries for our protection and good, as we seek to grow both in our relationship with our Savior and in our witness to the world? Yes, absolutely. But we must not forget the importance of guarding our hearts against external attacks and internal storms and temptations. They will come, and when they do, remember to go to God in prayer, unburden your heart before Him, arm yourself with His truth, renew your mind, and dedicate the heart battle to Him.