Singles, Keep your Heart
If I see one more pop up add for finding “true love” online, I think I’ll scream! We all have a natural need to be wanted and loved. But until the Lord connects us with someone, our assignment is to protect our most valued possession – the heart.
We are constantly exposed to obscenities from all mediums; radio, television, magazines, the conversations of others. The heart takes blow after blow as we strive to remain rooted in holy living. What’s a single person to do in a world where commitment and true intimacy are fading fast? There is timeless wisdom shared in Proverbs 4:23: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” The word “keep” here means to guard, watch over, keep in secret. Your heart is where the stuff that makes up the real you lie. It is the safety deposit box holding your most valuable possession, your life. God knows that it is with your heart that you experience life! He knows that whatever or whoever has access to your heart also has influence over your life. It’s a serious matter indeed!
The Lord also knows that love and romance begin much sooner than the moment your eyes meet with another’s so the first priority in preparation for a mate is developing a relationship with God. When your heart is in disarray eventually your dealings with others become messy. Even your representation of the Lord becomes poor. We must preserve our hearts because it is through the heart that others will be experience God. We maintain our relationship with God through prayer, worship and study of scriptures. Set aside time to simply talk to the Lord as frankly as possible. Share with Him your feelings and struggles. Let Him become your Comforter and the Lover of your soul. It is out of this intimate relationship that you’ll learn how to have an intimate relationship with someone else. The book of Proverbs offers more wisdom regarding our hearts. “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” (Proverbs 25:28) Our second priority is to learn to manage our lives before we have to manage another’s. Walls in ancient times represented protection, order and management. The word spirit here is interchangeable with the word heart. Ask yourself, “what good am I to others if I’m emotionally exhausted, inconsistent and unreliable?” This is where the practical task of “trust and obey” comes into play; where God speaks and you respond. So when the time for love arrives, you can do so from a heart that is already enriched, ready to serve, able to receive.
The key word in all of this is surrender. God can entrust awesome things to a surrendered heart! Take the time now and recommit to keeping your heart. Ask Him for help. He’s not only able but He’s willing to give your heart a fresh start!
We are constantly exposed to obscenities from all mediums; radio, television, magazines, the conversations of others. The heart takes blow after blow as we strive to remain rooted in holy living. What’s a single person to do in a world where commitment and true intimacy are fading fast? There is timeless wisdom shared in Proverbs 4:23: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” The word “keep” here means to guard, watch over, keep in secret. Your heart is where the stuff that makes up the real you lie. It is the safety deposit box holding your most valuable possession, your life. God knows that it is with your heart that you experience life! He knows that whatever or whoever has access to your heart also has influence over your life. It’s a serious matter indeed!
The Lord also knows that love and romance begin much sooner than the moment your eyes meet with another’s so the first priority in preparation for a mate is developing a relationship with God. When your heart is in disarray eventually your dealings with others become messy. Even your representation of the Lord becomes poor. We must preserve our hearts because it is through the heart that others will be experience God. We maintain our relationship with God through prayer, worship and study of scriptures. Set aside time to simply talk to the Lord as frankly as possible. Share with Him your feelings and struggles. Let Him become your Comforter and the Lover of your soul. It is out of this intimate relationship that you’ll learn how to have an intimate relationship with someone else. The book of Proverbs offers more wisdom regarding our hearts. “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” (Proverbs 25:28) Our second priority is to learn to manage our lives before we have to manage another’s. Walls in ancient times represented protection, order and management. The word spirit here is interchangeable with the word heart. Ask yourself, “what good am I to others if I’m emotionally exhausted, inconsistent and unreliable?” This is where the practical task of “trust and obey” comes into play; where God speaks and you respond. So when the time for love arrives, you can do so from a heart that is already enriched, ready to serve, able to receive.
The key word in all of this is surrender. God can entrust awesome things to a surrendered heart! Take the time now and recommit to keeping your heart. Ask Him for help. He’s not only able but He’s willing to give your heart a fresh start!
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