Three Steps To A Healthy Heart

December 6, 2019

Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23

1. KEEP IT SIMPLE. A true genius doesn’t use intelligence to impress and intimidate but instead clarifies things into layman’s terms so others can understand a complex thought. God made Christianity simple enough that a child can grasp it. How much more does He want to help you approach life the same way? When we let Him, God will take what seems super complicated in our lives and simplify it. Then He equips us to do the same for others (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).

2. KEEP IT SINCERE. Your life is a constant expression of God’s presence in this world. This doesn’t mean you have to be perfect – only Jesus is perfect. Look at the two examples of King Saul and King David in the Bible. The difference in their lives was that when Saul sinned, he ran from God. When David sinned, he ran to God and admitted his failure. God is faithful and we place our confidence in Him – not in ourselves. So continue to just be your authentic, down-to-earth self.

3. KEEP IT SERENE. Our hearts are designed to connect with God. When Jesus stood up at a religious festival and offered “rivers of living water,” He spoke to a group of people who understood the contrast of a dry desert with flowing water. Where they were spiritually parched and full of confusion, He promised the Holy Spirit would soon bring rivers of water full of peace and life (John 7:37-39). And now we have that same promised Holy Spirit here to help us in our daily walk with God. So keep your heart tethered to the things of God and you will see the life-giving fruit of a strong, peaceful heart! Consistent fellowship with God prevents anxiety (1 Peter 5:7, Philippians 4:6-7).

God bless you!
Pastor Jeff Perry

PRAY THIS PRAYER
By Bishop John H. Vincent
“I will try this day to live a simple, sincere and serene life, repelling promptly every thought of discontent, anxiety, discouragement, impurity, and self-seeking; cultivating cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity, and the habit of holy silence; exercising economy in expenditure, generosity in giving, carefulness in conversation, diligence in appointed service, fidelity to every trust, and a childlike faith in God. In particular I will try to be faithful in those habits of prayer, work, study, physical exercise, eating, and sleep which I believe the Holy Spirit has shown me to be right. And as I cannot in my own strength do this, nor even with a hope of success attempt it, I look to thee, O Lord God my Father, in Jesus my Savior, and ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Watch, verb
Biblical Hebrew word for watch: natsar. To guard, keep, to preserve, protect.

Copyright © 2019 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. John H. Vincent. Forward Day by Day. Forward Movement Publications, 2011. “natsar.“ Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Copyright 1890 by James Strong, Madison, NJ.