Key Scripture: Proverbs 4:23

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Relevance

In the last post (I feel like a bugler saying that), I spoke of the sins of the mind and heart. Once wrong thoughts move from the mind and seed themselves in our hearts, we're on the way to committing sin. (James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death). 

That means we're allowing the unclean or perverted into our heart-temple. Some Old Testament kings began to use Solomon's Temple in a similar manner, until the temple was utilised for the worship of all gods except God Almighty. Sin creeps in millimetres.

We have a few seconds to get thoughts of sin out of our minds before they are transported to our fertile hearts. From that point, sin grows quickly, and wrong deeds are done.

A few years ago, I borrowed a sermon from my Elder on the importance of walls and gates and delivered it here.

We’ve all experienced what happens when the walls of our heart are broken down, allowing wrong things to enter. Or instead of selectively monitoring our heart's gate, we've invited different sorts of evil in. 

Thinking on this, we see the connection between Proverbs 25:28: He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls, and Revelation 22:14-15 For Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Without (outside the Kingdom/Heart) are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Heaven is kept with diligence. These types of people will not enter Heaven. Nobody will enter without a ticket—the blood of Jesus and obedience to His commandments. When the walls and gates of our hearts are not kept with all diligence, as in a security guard doing the rounds many times a day and keeping those filthy outsider thoughts out, they come in. 

Our minds are easier to enter than Heaven, so Satan focuses on those. Instead of storming the gates of Heaven, he storms the gates of our minds and hearts. Satan and his demons are constantly trying to enter using any cunning means, especially deception. 

We must treat thoughts like they should show their ticket before entry. Good thoughts are welcome; the rest are not. That's diligence. 

Today's prayer

Precious Lord, we can talk all day about our earthly mind and heart battles. But you have shown us that we can save ourselves a lot of headaches and heartaches by following your Son's lead. If we stay close by your side and diligently watch over the places you reign, our lives can be a lot more trouble-free, allowing us to worship you without interruption.

Photo by DESIGNECOLOGIST