Realized that I have been doing it wrong. I have been guarding
my heart out of fear and not out of faith. I guard my heart because I am afraid
to “fail” again. Because I no longer want to experience the same pain in the
past. But I also realized that I should be guarding my heart not out of fear
but out of faith.Now don’t get me wrong in this principle. There is a kind of
fear that is beautiful, one that reveres God or being in awe of who God is.
That is the kind of fear that we should apply and embrace in our lives because the fear of God is the beginning of true wisdom.
But there is also a different kind of fear that we so often
use in our daily lives. From the book I am currently reading “Start With Why”
by Simon Sinek, the author explains how fear is a good motivator and a powerful
manipulator. When fear is employed, facts are incidental. Parents use fear to
raise kids. We often use fear to motivate people to obey a code of ethics. But
all too often, it is not the systems that fail but the ability to maintain
them.
Now if that kind of fear motivates us to move away from
something horrible, faith lets us move toward something desirable. And this is what
God has just revealed to me today with regards to matters of the heart specifically in relationships. I
should guard my heart not out of fear but out of faith, believing that God
knows and wants what is best for me. Fully trusting that His plans and His ways
are always greater and higher. To guard my heart means giving room for God to
truly give me His best, in His own terms and not mine.
I am a person of conviction. I stand firm in them believing
that convictions help us focus on where we should be heading. A person without
conviction will be led astray. Because if you don’t stand for anything, you
will fall for everything.
But we need to have the right perspective on the Why. And one
of the greatest convictions that I made ever since I followed God is the
conviction of Guarding My Emotions. I realized that I failed several times in in this area because it was out of
fear. My normal tendency is to “stay away” or “distance” myself because I did not want unnecessary emotions. Now it makes sense to me why I found myself either too distant or too open. Not finding the right balance. But now I learned (and still learning) that it is not just about the external (physical
boundaries are healthy and necessary) but what is more important is the position
of the heart. And guarding your heart out of faith will enable you to find the right balance.
It is important to have the right perspective so I can stand
firm and sustain the boundaries I have set before God. Not too close, not too far. Just right especially before Him. Guarding my heart out of
faith will enable me to see God’s goodness and His loving character. It will
also make me hope in Him for the best and be truly expectant that He never
gives less to His children but always the best.
Few nights ago, I had so much thoughts on my head. My
emotions were all over the place as I lay my head to sleep. I had to
intentionally stand up and kneel before God to speak to me loud and clear
through His Word. I wanted to focus on Him, what He had to say and where He
wanted me to be. And when God speaks, there is so much peace.
It’s crazy how our desires can control our emotions and when
this happens, it will cloud us from His goodness and His better plans for our
lives. If you are going through something similar, do not be
discouraged. It’s never too late to have a change of perspective. Guard your
heart not out of fear but out of faith.Learn to process your emotions before God, acknowledge them but also submit yourself to the Lord and most importantly surrender to His will.
So today, I promise to you God that I will no longer guard my heart out of fear but
out of faith. Thank you Jesus for your never ending patience and Your
faithfulness. Give me the grace to be faithful in this season, in this calling.
Only You can satisfy my whole being. In You there is hope, peace and fulness of
joy. I love you Lord. I am fully known and fully loved by You.
Sharing this verse from my quiet time today:
“Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning (tricky).
But God himself will shoot them down with his arrows,
Suddenly striking them down.
They will proclaim the mighty acts of God and realize all
the amazing things he does.
The godly will rejoice in the Lord and find shelter in him.
And those who do what is right
Will praise him.” Psalms 64 (rephrased)
Right here, right now with You Lord is where I need to be. I
can only move forward with so much excitement and hope in You, Lord! What is my
desire compared to the SALVATION that you have oh so freely given?
Guard Your Heart Out of Faith, Not Out of Fear !
God bless, everyone!
March 5, 2019
