February 06, 2025

Listen to the Lord by Susan Barclay

 

This month’s writing prompt talks about the heart “as the core of one’s being, composed of our mind, emotion, and will”, and asks us how we keep or guard our heart. How do we guard our mind? How do we guard our emotions? How do we guard our will?

The mind is a powerful force. Our thoughts direct our actions, so it is important to control our thoughts. While we may not be able to restrain an initial, impulsive thought reaction, we can decide that we aren’t going to continue down that path or dwell in a place of negativity, judgment, or anger. We can rein in our thoughts and redirect them. Scripture tells us to “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8).

Because I have someone in my life whose spirit is often critical, I am frequently reminded of how I don’t want to be. When I find myself responding to others with agitation and irritation (I am only human, after all!), I soon remember to examine my thoughts. Are they true? Are they honourable? Are they right, pure, lovely, admirable? If not, I need to change them. I must recall that my “adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). [W]e are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). The enemy seeks to stir up conflict and division, but God desires us to have an attitude of forgiveness, peace and reconciliation. Recently my husband shared with me an Isabel Allum video (begin at 22:47) that speaks to this, if you would like to watch it.

Emotions are also powerful and action-oriented. We need to pay attention to emotions because they can represent our gut reaction or instincts and at times can save us a boatload of trouble. At other times they can mislead us and put us in danger. God has emotions and we are created in his image. Having emotions or being emotional is not “bad,” however unlike God, our expressions of emotions are not always perfect or holy. We have a sinful nature and live in a fallen world of volatility, subjectivity, and recklessness. I’ll confess that I haven’t striven too hard to guard my emotions, largely because I struggle to be in touch with them and feel that, if anything, they are tamped down already. I did find a couple of what I think are good introductory articles on the subject. Check out these in PsychologyToday and MyWell Being.

What else is powerful? Our will. Just like our mind and emotions, our will drives our actions. Merriam-Webster defines “will” (noun) as a desire or wish, such as a disposition, inclination, appetite, passion, choice or determination. I once heard it said (or read) that “the heart wants what it wants,” a quote I see attributed to Woody Allen but could have been said by anyone. This is an expression of the will: we want what we want, and we do whatever is necessary and in our own power to make it happen, even if it’s to our own or others’ detriment. So we must guard what we want and seek to align our will with God’s. He has good plans for us to give us a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). We should “not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). We should remember that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17). Be careful what you wish for,” the saying goes, because things don’t always work out the way we expect. God’s will is much better than ours; trust in him and he will make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Rich Mullins is a favourite artist of mine and I leave you with this link to his song, Maker of Noses, for reflection. I hope you see the relevancy to our theme and enjoy Rich's writing as much as I do.

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c. Susan Barclay, 2025. For more about Susan and her writing, please visit www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com.

 

February 05, 2025

Guard the Vision in Your Heart by Sandi Somers




While living in Colombia, South America, my friend Bessie and I visited her former colleagues in Bogota. As we stepped into their high-rise apartment, it felt like a penthouse: elegant, classy, and affluent. Not something I expected from missionaries who normally lived in modest homes. After our hostess greeted us warmly, I noticed the dinner table was set with a linen cloth, silverware and bone China. During dinner, whenever our hostess wanted the maid’s service, she rang the tiny bell beside her plate. The maid, wearing a stereotypical black dress and white apron, appeared from behind the closed kitchen door. Though maids were common among missionaries, I was not used to such formality.

However, years later when I read my journal, I had only briefly mentioned these details: “Do they ever have culture and ‘class’!...a different society!”

But my journal included interesting details I had forgotten. Completely. Their son, John, an MBA student at Harvard University, was visiting his family for Christmas. Also visiting was his grandmother. My journal notes that John, “confided to his grandmother (but made sure I heard), that he liked ‘Southern belles, Jewish girls, and foreign girls’, which included me in the list.”

How could I have forgotten those people and those delicious details?

Shortly afterwards, I read an article that pointed to what I experienced: the Zeigarnik Effect, named after Bluma Zeigarnik, the Russian psychologist of a century ago. She studied how waitresses remembered complex orders but then forgot the details once the order was completed. This led to the principle: We forget completed tasks. We remember unfinished tasks because we need to mentally hang onto the details.

How can this concept relate to our month’s theme of guarding our hearts?

What has God put in your heart to write and you haven't finished? Are you discouraged? Can't think of how to write it? Do you keep putting it off?

I’ve put writing projects on hold for various reasons. Yet I keep mulling over ideas, jotting notes, writing thoughts in my journal.

These unfinished projects won’t let go.

I’m now consciously working on finishing a number of those undertakings, and I have some strategies if you are in the same situation.

~ ~ ~

Begin with prayer. Pray into the vision of what you know God has planted in you. Picture the book in your hands. Visualize that article published. Guard that vision in your heart.

Write a summary of what you want to say, and this will help focus your thoughts.

Reread your work after six months—or longer. Seeing it with fresh eyes will point out what you know is good, and perhaps how you can finish it.

Adapt Brenda Wood’s recommendations in last month’s blog post: write missing parts in your morning pages. Fill out scenes. Write a new transition. Reorganize your structure. Experiment with different introductions or applications. Then transcribe those drafts into the appropriate projects.

Take a morning or whole day for a self-guided retreat. Blocking this time gives you more headway than working little by little. You may need more time than just a day, but at least you'll have a good start at finishing.

If November is nearing, challenge yourself to complete what you started through participating in NaNoWriMo (for fiction) or Write Nonfiction in November.

You may need to let a project go. Accept that it just isn't workable. However, you can perform transplant surgery and add pieces to some other works in progress.

If you’re still “finishing challenged”, invite a coach, an editor, or a trusted confidant to share their perspectives. Taking a course might be a good way to go.

And finally, guard God’s words to you in your heart. He might say, “Be strong and finish the work”, or “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3). Or He might encourage you with a new direction: “For I am about to do something new…. Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness (Isaiah 43:18-19 NLT).

As we listen to the Spirit’s promptings, trust God, and step out in faith, He’ll help us bring to completion what we’ve started.

Image by Instagram

  

February 04, 2025

Vigilance and Me by Brenda J Wood

 



This month, our writing prompt verse is "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life". (Proverbs 4:23)

As I pondered the passage, I realized that I didn't really know the meaning of some of the words. It might as well have been written in Ang Pulong Sa Dios (APSD-CEB) for it made about as much sense to me.
"Bantayi pag-ayo ang imong hunahuna, kay kon unsay anaa sa imong hunahuna mao usab ang imong ikinabuhi." (Proverbs 4:23)
When I looked up some of the troublesome words, I found this. Vigilance? The state or action of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties. Springs of life? A metaphor for the heart, which is a source of life that flows out to influence others.

Then I checked several Bible versions to see how they interpret the phrase.
"Be very careful about what you think. Your thoughts run your life." (International Children’s Bible)

"Be very careful to keep your mind safe. The thoughts that you think make you the person that you are." (Easy English Bible)

"Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life." (Easy-to-Read Version)

"Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts." (Good News Translation)

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (King James Version)

"Above all else, guard your affections. For they influence everything else in your life." (Living Bible)

Above all else, watch over your heart; diligently guard it because from a sincere and pure heart come the good and noble things of life. (The Voice)
And finally, I checked out The Message:
"Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.
Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth.
Avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
Keep your eyes straight ahead.
Ignore all side-show distractions.
Watch your step. And the road will stretch out smoothly before you.
Look neither right nor left. Leave evil in the dust."(Proverbs 4:23-27)
And then I examined my own heart with great fear and trepidation. And I failed. How did your heart do on The Message test? We glibly quote verses to encourage others or ourselves and too often have no idea what we are saying. And now back to the original assignment.
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23)
What is your heart saying to you? It is February and heart month and Valentine's Day and so many more heart thoughts. Do we really know what we are saying when we offer our heart to someone? Is our heart pure enough to give?


(Top) Image by NietjuhArt from Pixabay


Brenda J. Wood has authored more than fifty books. She is a seasoned motivational speaker, who declares the Word of God with wisdom, humour, and common sense.






February 03, 2025

Aspirations on How to Guard My Heart by Lorrie Orr


“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
Proverbs 4:23

In this month’s prompt we are encouraged to think about the heart, the core of our being composed of our mind, emotion, and will. How do you keep or guard your heart? What is it saying to you these days?




Why should I guard my heart? My life today is the result of the choices in the past. My life tomorrow will be the result of the choices I make today. To guard my heart is to protect it and cherish it, for from my heart comes every thought, action, and feeling. Here are some aspirations for guarding my heart.

1. I guard my heart by recognizing that each day is a gift from the hand of my loving God. My days on earth are finite and their end unknown to all but God. When I come to consciousness in the morning, I say, in my head, “Good morning, Lord.” I recognize that he has allowed me to awaken, and I thank him.

2. I guard or protect my heart and mind from things that are not beneficial. I like to know what’s happening in the world. It helps me have empathy for others, and it provides knowledge for conversations. However, too much news, particularly now, can be overwhelming and lead to fear, anxiety, and even anger. Merely reading current headlines can make me tense up. As a result, I’ve signed out of several news feeds and am restricting my consumption. I feel better and sleep better.

3. I guard my heart by seeking God’s wisdom and surrendering to him. When he fills the core of my being, I can respond to life’s circumstances according to his design. I need his Spirit to help me live the life I want, a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.

4. I guard my heart by knowing myself. Balancing solitude and companionship, soaking up beauty, learning new things, writing and creative pursuits, taking care of my home and my body are important to me. I respect those needs, weaving my relationship with God in every aspect of my life. I am learning that self-care is not selfish, but necessary. The busy years of child-raising and a teaching career are behind me and now I have more time for the pursuits that gladden my heart. However, even as a mother with three young children, I took small moments of time to read and sew and do the things that filled me. There is joy in knowing how God created me to be and in protecting my needs while being open to his guidance.

Do I always guard my heart in these ways? No, but I do know that guarding my heart is the way to wisdom and how I long for that. I am so thankful that the apostle James wrote, “if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God who gives generously without finding fault, and it will be given you.” I know that I when I fail, God is there with open arms and open hands, continuously giving me his gifts.



Lorrie writes from Vancouver Island where there is much "scope for the
imagination" as Anne Shirley says. She loves spending time with
her husband, three children plus three, and her five grandchildren.