Guard Your Heart

Sméagol is comsumed and even kills a friend for a special ring that had been made by the Dark Lord Soran.  As Sméagol embraces the ring and its cunning allure, he is transformed over time into the tortured, disfigured soul named Gollum. 

…Take every thought captive, so that it conforms to the will of God – 2 Corinthians 10:5

….Please guard your heart because it is the doorway to…

Thots
Disciplines
Motivations
Energy
Joy
Usefulness    

Protect it… keep it healthy and strong…Put a lock on it

Place a guard before it that “...none shall pass…”.

Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is

Luke 6:45 For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

“Danger Will Robinson”  

That is why God examines the heart of a man, not simply his outward appearance and what he appears to be – I Samuel 16:7

Atherosclerosis is a hardening of the arteries due to accumulated cholesterol plaques and scarring in the artery walls. 

Hardening of the spiritual heart can also occur. Hardening of the heart occurs when we are presented with God’s truth, and we refuse to acknowledge or accept it.

Congestive heart failure is an inability of the heart to successfully pump blood through the body due to weaknesses within its walls. Congestive heart failure can result from hypertension (high blood pressure), myocardial infarctions (heart attacks), and abnormal enlargement of the heart.

Heart murmurs are abnormal flow patterns due to faulty heart valves. Heart valves act as doors to prevent the backward flow of blood into the heart.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” – Philippians 4:8. 

Dwelling on these things will help to build a guard fence around our hearts.