Chances are, whatever and whoever we care for will get the majority of our time and effort on a daily basis. Simply put, without constraints (and we’ll talk about those), we are apt to spend most of our time thinking about what we like and doing what we like.
This is not automatically a bad thing but, if we aren’t careful, it can have a negative impact on our relationship with the Lord and on our daily walk with Him. Here’s what Jesus had to say on the subject:
for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 (NASB)
Simple, isn’t it? Our heart (and when the Bible talks about the heart it is really talking about the seat of our will, our focus, and our desire) will go to whatever or whoever we “treasure”. If we practice and work on treasuring our Lord by getting closer to Him and walking in His ways then that is where our heart will be. But if we allow ourselves to begin to treasure a thing or a person by placing undo focus and desire on that thing or person then we are practicing a form of idolatry and God will not be glorified in us until we make it right.
Let’s go back to those constraints we talked about in the first paragraph and here is one that I am going to use as an example. As much as we might not enjoy working for a living sometimes one of the benefits of a full-time job is that it (ideally) keeps us engaged in doing something productive and useful for society. Otherwise, some of us might find all kinds of ways to let our hearts and minds wander into places that they should not be.
Another useful and good constraint should be the people around us; our families and friends. (I say “should” because we as Christians should be surrounding ourselves with those who can help to keep us straight and not those who would be a negative influence) When we focus on building Godly relationships within our churches, families and friendship circles we place a layer of protection from sinful thoughts and activities around ourselves in the process.
Finally, we need to be very familiar with two important “D” words; discipline and diligence. Ultimately our greatest battles will be battles of the mind and heart against our sinful natures and how our sin nature will always want the opposite of what our new, spiritual nature needs. We need the discipline to choose to do the right things and discipline, like muscles, must be built with repetition and care.
As an example, I have committed to reading the Bible through over the next year. I have a guide that I am using with selected passages every morning and while some mornings I am very excited to see what God’s word says other mornings, I confess, I am less so. My flesh resists disciplined reading of the Bible every day and I have to struggle to overcome that knowing that in doing so, there will be a very positive outcome.
This is where diligence comes in because we must be diligent about maintaining our disciplines. Just like a muscle will atrophy if not used so will our discipline if we cease to practice it. But if we diligently guard our minds and practice our disciplined walk with God then we can overcome those sinful desires and make sure that our affection and attention are going towards the right thing.
P.S. – The photo I found for today’s post was titled by the photographer “Take My Heart”. In light of the topic I found it to be wholly appropriate. In the end, who or what will take our hearts?
