Are you on Guard??

Family issues, bills, overwhelming workload, missed dreams, past hurts, broken relationships and future hopes. Throughout the course of a day we are all bombarded by a barrage of thoughts that can seemingly overwhelm us. Not only can these thoughts overwhelm us, but if we’re not mindful of their presence and careful of their power we can find ourselves led into a myriad of emotions and actions we never intended to feel or do.

Many people find themselves in places and situations all because they've failed to stay on guard. Proverbs 4:23 says “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” (NKJV) So many people spend a considerable amount of time guarding worldly possessions and things that they have high regard for, but leave the most important parts of their being unguarded.

Consider for a moment, what do you possess more vital and valuable than your mind and heart? What could possibly hold more value to you than the two things that have the ability to drive your every action? Let me just make it clear; nothing you ever inherit, purchase or find will be more important or worthy of guarding than your mind and heart. Why? Because the succession to living begins with the mind and heart; and if we’re not careful the pattern can lead us into a destructive end.

What in the world is the succession to living and how does it work? Well, in an unguarded life the succession looks like this; thoughts lead to damaging emotions, damaging emotions lead to unwise actions and unwise actions lead to consequences. Don't believe me? We'll think of a time in your life where you found yourself dealing with severe consequences that either came very close to or may have destroyed a part of your life. I'm pretty sure if you trace your steps back to how you started on that destructive path it'll lead you to some unguarded thoughts and feelings. Likewise think about a time in your life where you had the enjoyment of fulfilling a goal or watching the fruit of wise decisions unfold in your life. When you stop and recall how you got to these great results you will find that you had specific thoughts in your mind that led to healthy and fruitful emotions that led to proper actions.

Want to live a purposeful life; I admonish you to stay on guard