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Wednesday,
November 16, 2022
"Heart
Protector"
Message
summary:
There is
a great deception and
powerful delusion that
is sweeping our world. I
am even more convinced
of the absolute
importance of protecting
my heart from deception
and I believe that's
true for all of us!
Listen"Above
all else, protect
your heart, for
everything you do
flows from it"
(Proverbs
4:23).
For many
years I visited
weekly with Rick, a
mechanical engineer,
in the course of our
chaplain work. He is
now retired but was
a specialist in live
animal traps and
likely many of our
readers have
benefited from a
product he designed.
Like most
engineering and
design work these
days it all begins
on a computer
screen.
Of the thousands of people we have seen in our work Rick is the only one that I recall who always wore a distinctive accessory, his pocket protector. He actually had a collection and graciously offered me one but after wearing it a few times I decided I'm just not a pocket protector guy.
Pocket protectors according to most sources were invented in the nineteen-forties. It is a sheath designed to hold writing instruments and other small implements, such as slide rules, while preventing them from damaging the wearer's shirt pocket (e.g., by tearing or staining by a leaky pen). The pocket protector is designed to fit neatly inside the breast pocket of a shirt. A flap overlapping the pocket exterior helps to secure the pocket protector in place. *
For many
years I visited
weekly with Rick, a
mechanical engineer,
in the course of our
chaplain work. He is
now retired but was
a specialist in live
animal traps and
likely many of our
readers have
benefited from a
product he designed.
Like most
engineering and
design work these
days it all begins
on a computer
screen.Of the thousands of people we have seen in our work Rick is the only one that I recall who always wore a distinctive accessory, his pocket protector. He actually had a collection and graciously offered me one but after wearing it a few times I decided I'm just not a pocket protector guy.
Pocket protectors according to most sources were invented in the nineteen-forties. It is a sheath designed to hold writing instruments and other small implements, such as slide rules, while preventing them from damaging the wearer's shirt pocket (e.g., by tearing or staining by a leaky pen). The pocket protector is designed to fit neatly inside the breast pocket of a shirt. A flap overlapping the pocket exterior helps to secure the pocket protector in place. *
Today's
verse speaks of
protecting something
vitally more
important than our
shirt pocket; protecting
our heart. "Above
all else, protect
your heart, for
everything you do
flows from it"
(Proverbs 4:23). We have a
personal
responsibility to
protect our heart.
We certainly seek to
do so physically,
being aware of how
vital our heart is
to life.But when Solomon wrote these words he was primarily referring to the spiritual heart, our inner person. The CEV states, "Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life." The Amplified Version renders the passage, "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life."
This must
be our primary focus
in life and of
utmost importance as
Solomon emphasized, "Above
all else".Protecting your heart is of utmost importance because "everything you do flows from it". This is true both physically and spiritually. Jesus shared a similar teaching when He stated, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander" (Matthew 15:19). The apostle Paul, using a lesson from history, "Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did" (1 Corinthians 10:6). The apostle Peter states, "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord" (1 Peter 3:15).
Blogger Michael Hyatt lists three reasons we must protect our hearts:
- Because our heart is extremely valuable.
- Because our heart is the source of everything we do.
- Because our heart is under constant attack.
Be
encouraged today, (Hebrews
3:13)
Stephen
& Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, You
made my heart
to be the
life-giving
source for my
physical
existence and
You also made
my heart to be
the
life-giving
source for my
spiritual
existence.
Create in me a
pure and
contrite
heart, O God,
and establish
a steadfast
spirit within
me. It is only
in the power
of Your Holy
Spirit that I
can faithfully
guard my heart
from the
follies of
this world.
Fill me with
the abundance
of Your
goodness so
that it
overflows into
the lives of
others as my
conversation
and conduct
reflect Your
residency
within my
heart. Help
me, I pray, in
the name of
Jesus. Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Guard
Your Heart" Video
Steve Green
"Slow Fade" Video Casting Crowns
"Three Reasons Why You Must Guard Your Heart" Michael Hyatt
"What does it mean to guard your heart?" (From gotquestions.org)
* Wikepedia article about the pocket protector
"Slow Fade" Video Casting Crowns
"Three Reasons Why You Must Guard Your Heart" Michael Hyatt
"What does it mean to guard your heart?" (From gotquestions.org)
* Wikepedia article about the pocket protector
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radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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