It ‘s very easy to slip into habits and pick up on the world’s negative mindsets, speech, sarcasm, gossip, and non-uplifting speech that surround us everyday. We can easily allow ourselves to get caught up in banter, discussions, and arguments, which really have nothing good to say about anyone or anything. If we do allow these things into our lives enough it will start to infiltrate into other areas of our lives, and can cause us to be lead into pursuits, relationships and social settings we never intended to be in.
The bible teaches us on how to stay free from these pitfalls. It says to, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
We can therefore make a quality decision and commitment to choose the higher life, instead of the low life, and to watch what comes in our lives. We can choose everyday to supercharge our lives with positivity, God’s word, praise, worship, and being around those people who inspire and encourage us, or we can choose the opposite.
When we choose God’s way consistently something starts to change on the inside of us. At first it may be only a subtle shift towards positivity and thinking better thoughts, but it doesn’t take long before you start to notice that you feel more peaceful, closer to, and more aware of Holy Spirit, healthier, wiser, more loving and generally happier.
Here are some things to keep in mind in guarding your heart and choosing the higher life of God’s Kingdom:
Ask God to put a guard across you mouth so that you don’t keep saying the things you later regret, and be diligent with what you allow into your thought life and heart.
“Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do no wrong.” (Psalm 141:3-4)
Take a look at what your input -We do need to regularly take a look at who or what we are listening to and spending time with, as what we surround ourselves with, is who and what we will become. To make changes it is necessary to be honest about our relationships, media and recreational viewing and any other pastimes, and whether they are beneficial or not.
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (Proverbs 13:20)
Our souls and spirits are like sponges and will soak up whatever is around them the most. What are you soaking up?
The bible gives us a simple and easy guideline to follow in what to soak up. It ‘s found in Philippians 4:8, and says,
“Finally, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think on these things.”
If we filter all that we are thinking about, watching, listening to, saying or doing through this scripture it soon becomes apparent if we need to make some changes, and as we do we are promised, “The peace of God will be with us.” (Philippians 4:9)
I encourage you to ask God how you are going with your thought life, speech, relationships, and your subsequent actions? Are there areas you could grow in to be more positive and loving? Are you soaking into your life those things that help and strengthen your faith, and help you be the person that God desires you to be?
It’s always our choice, and if we choose the higher life and God’s way of living He promises He will strengthen us everyday, and help us to be the person we were always created to be.
“I call heaven and earth to speak against you today. I have put in front of you life and death, the good and the curse. So choose life.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)
Prayer: Lord please help me to choose wisely the things I “soak up” into my life. May they be things that are true honourable, right, pure, lovely and praise worthy, so that my life will also reflect these things. In Jesus Name Amen.