Guard Your Heart & Mind

The writer of Proverbs warned, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (Prov. 4:23 NIV).

A recent article by H. B. London in the Enrichment Journal, Eliminating the Obstacles to a Healthy Ministry (Winter 2011, p. 76-81) provides us five ways that we may guard our hearts and our minds in order to live out a healthy Christian lifestyle.

Avoid being judgmental: having a negative opinion or estimation of another person.

Avoid cynicism: a tendency to be suspicious of the motives and virtues of others.

Avoid fear: an emotional reaction to the unknown; a reluctance to trust.

Avoid controling: a need for power over others and to dominate circumstances.

Avoid jealousy: don't be envious of someone else's success, position, or possessions.

Paul, author of Philippians wrote this about write thinking: "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Php 4:7 NIV).In the very next verse Paul instructs us how to think: true thoughts, noble thoughts, right thoughts, pure thoughts, lovely thoughts, admirable thoughts, excellent thoughts, and praiseworthy thoughts.

Dysfunctional people live their lives in the flaws listed above. Healthy Christians will rid themselves of those flaws.

Another New Year

I am often amazed by the number of new year resolutions that remain unfilled at the end of the year. I confess that i too am sometimes guilty of this. The apostle Paul has a solution. "I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back." (Philippians 3:14 MSG) As a former long distance road runner, I discovered that it was not only important to start the race well and to finish strong, but that what you did in between was just as important. So this year, concentrate on the days in between number one and day number three hundred sixty-five. It's what you do on those days that will determine this year's outcome in your life.