Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23
Guarding your heart is about protecting what God is rebuilding inside you. Some of the ways we can protect our hearts is through paying attention to 3 ways (gates) of influence. Ear gate, eye gate, and mouth gate.
Your thought life controls you. Proverbs 23:7 says, for as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Your thoughts-positive, negative, good, or bad-control your attitudes. Your attitudes are the sum total of your thoughts. Your attitudes lead to your actions. Someone once said, “Sow a thought, reap a deed. Sow a deed, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny.” Before you can do things, you have to think it. Your thoughts lead to attitudes; attitudes lead to actions; actions lead to those achievements. It all begins with the thought life. Your achievements will be the sum of your thoughts.
Ear Gate – What I listen to
What we listen to plants seeds in our heart. Words carry weight. Some words reopen wounds. Some can water healing. Some can discourage or encourage. Proverbs 18:21 says, death and life are in the power of the tongue. One song can take you to your past. Which can make you think about the wrong things or feelings.
Reflection:
- When I listen to certain conversations, how does my spirit feel? Heavy? Guarded? Triggered? Strengthened?
- Are there voices that pull me back into who I used to be instead of who I’m becoming?
- What feelings or thoughts do I start entertaining when I listen to certain music or tv shows?
ACTIVATION: “Holy Spirit, what voices do I need to turn down so I can hear You more clearly?
Write what you sense:
One thing I will be intentional about listening to this week: (ex. healthy programs, healthy conversations)
Eye Gate – What I Allow to Enter My Mind
What we look at and what we replay in our minds will shape our emotions. Some bring shame, some pain, some sadness, etc. This is why reading God’s word washes us in the truth. It shows us what is wrong thinking, increases our faith, encourages, corrects, disciplines, and counsels us in the right way.
Reflection:
- What images or memories have been replaying in my mind lately?
- Are there tv show or other things I look at that stir comparison, compromise, anger, or temptation?
- What would it look like to intentionally picture a healed version of myself?
Activation:
- Place your hand over your heart and ask: “God show me who I am becoming, not just where I’ve been.”
Write what comes to mind:
This week, when painful or negative memories surface, I will replace them with:
The Mouth Gate: What I Speak Over My life or Others
Again, life and death are in the tongue. Read James 3:1-12. We have the ability to build ourselves and others up or tear down.
Reflection:
- How do I speak about myself? Does it line up with God’s word and how He sees me?
- If my children could hear me speak about myself, what would they learn?
- What would it look like if I spoke life (truth) about myself and others? How would I respond?
- What would it look like if I spoke death (lies/negativity) over myself and others? How would I respond?
Activation:
Write a declaration you will speak over yourself, even when you don’t feel it:
Be intentional and find one way to encourage someone this week.
Walking In the Spirit
Galatians 5:16 says, I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
What that may look like where you’re at:
- Not joining in gossip
- Choosing silence over reaction
- Praying instead of escalating emotions
- Finding things to be thankful for
- Pray for those who are hard to be around
- Encourage someone going through it
For the next 7 days, I will:
1. Step away from one negative conversation
2. Speak life declaration over myself daily
3. Refuse to give into negative thoughts and replace with God’s truth
4. Write or say things I’m thankful for
5. Take time to praise God for who He is and all He has done
*A special thanks to Jessica Prines for this teaching!
