Sunday, May 15, 2016

Guarding Your Heart

Steve Irwin was "The Crocodile Hunter" on the TV series by that name. I remember watching one show where he was in a muddy river at night catching crocodiles with his bare hands! On another episode, he caught with his hands the 10 deadliest snakes in the world. I thought for sure he would eventually be killed by a crocodile or deadly snake. The world was shocked by how he actually died.

In 2006, Irwin was snorkeling in shallow water above a stingray, when suddenly it threw up its tail and spiked him in his heart. He died seconds later. Experts said the odds of this happening were one in a million. The only way a stingray can kill you is to stab you directly in your heart with its barbed spine. He let his guard down and was attacked at the one place where he was the most vulnerable—his heart.

The Scripture tell us, "Guard your heart above all else for out of it flows the springs of life" (Prov. 4:23).  Protecting your heart against attacks from Satan is your highest priority. The devil will try to plant evil thoughts in your heart that can destroy you. You can stop these "heart attacks" by stationing guards around your heart.

HOW TO GUARD YOUR HEART
To guard your heart means to stop destructive thoughts as soon as they come. Depression wants to enter your heart to destroy your will to live. Anger wants you to destroy others. 
1. Yield to the Holy Spirit.  “Submit therefore to God…” (James 4:7) The Holy Spirit is the only One who gives you the desire and power to be holy. Without the Holy Spirit, you can’t resist anything evil.
2. Control what you think about. You can choose what you think about. When you go to the wrong places in your mind, it opens your heart for an attack. “Do not give the devil an opportunity” (Eph. 4:27).
3. Resist Satan. If you are under attack, don’t give in but take a stand against the enemy. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7). But he won’t flee if you don’t resist.
Only you can protect your heart, so start right now. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  
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Making Life Count Ministries
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