Women were created to be emotional beings. However, it can be difficult to
control our emotions at times. But as Christian women who are striving to life
righteously, we have a responsibility to keep our emotions in check. We would be wise
to heed these words from Proverbs 4:23 – “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it
are the issues of life.”
Why is it so important for the Christian to guard their heart? Because sin
originates in the heart! Jesus explains this in Matthew chapter 15, verses 17 through 20.
Here, Jesus teaches that, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders,
adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which
defile a man…” Although these sins are committed by means of a physical action (apart
from evil thoughts), all of them first originate in the heart before being manifested.
Daniel and Ezra were two men that understood this concept well. In Daniel 1:8,
we read “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself…” Daniel had
prepared his heart in such a way that he would not commit sin when presented with the
king’s meat. From his example, we learn that we can avoid sin by pre-determining how
we will respond when certain temptations arise. We can choose not to sin before sin
even presents itself!
Ezra, like Daniel, prepared his heart in service to God. In Ezra 7:10, we read “For
Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in
Israel statutes and judgments.” Ezra not only prepared his heart, but he sought to life in
obedience to God AND to teach others to do the same. What a Godly example for us to
follow.
So how do we go about keeping our hearts with all diligence? First, we must fill
our minds with the Word and meditate on it daily – Psalm 1:2. Then, we must train
ourselves to think on only those things which are virtuous – Philippians 4:8. Next, we
must be purposeful in preparing our hearts, always looking for the way of escape even
before temptations arise – 1 Corinthians 10:13. Finally, we must be submissive to the
will of God. May our attitudes and prayers be that of David in Psalm 51:10 – “Create in
me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
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