Guarding our hearts and mind.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Philippians 4:8 above talks about the kind of things we should think and meditate upon. Proverbs 4:23 also says that we should guard our hearts with all diligence because out of it are the issues of life. Not forgetting Romans 12:2 that says we should be transformed by the renewing of our mind and shouldn’t be conformed to this world.

All these, just tells us the kind of things we should occupy our minds with. Recently, I was reading a book titled ‘Hey God, why is it taking so long’ by Lynette Hagin (great book by the way, I suggest you read it too). In it, she talked about staying in the Word of God. Now, this does not mean praying for 24hrs or reading your bible all day. It just means surrounding yourself with the things of God. It could be by playing gospel music while commuting (again, be careful with the kind of so called gospel music you’re listening to. Always make sure the lyrics are in line with the Word), listening to messages while driving, reading books, communicating with God and so on. All of these just help to renew, minds and focus our minds on the things of God and ensure that our gaze is permanently fixed on Him.

Also, I found that as I read that book on my way to and from school, I noticed my mind was always focused on God. While on other days when I watched programs that I thought of as ‘entertaining’, somehow, my mind started roaming and thinking thoughts that I really did not want to be thinking. But it was as a result of what I had taken in. Hence, we need to guard our hearts.

 It may seem easy to do for some of us, but I did not find it so easy. There are so many distractions in the world. But then I realize that serving God is a conscious effort and it’s a choice, we work at it. I remember writing on a piece of paper ‘Lord, I want to have a more intimate relationship with You’ but then the time I spent in His presence seemed to reduce when it was supposed to increase. It’s not magic, how was I supposed to hear Him when I was focused on the cares of this world, I did not take time to listen to Him and follow His leading, but I was rushing about taking care of my daily business, which technically should be His business. Even in the natural, our relationships with people become more intimate when we spend more time with them. It’s just the same with God.

If you’re like me and you’ve found yourself time and time again desiring a more intimate relationship with God but never really see it become a reality; the solution to this is in James 4:8. ‘Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…’. Draw near, move closer, spend more time in His presence. If you’ve been spending 30mins in your daily quiet time, increase it.  You’ve been spending countless hours watching TV, start reading your bible in that time. I know it might not sound so easy and there’s a tendency to going back to our old ways after sometime, but remember the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:27, he constantly disciplined His body and brought it under subjection.

Dear brother and sister in Christ, I have no doubt that there would be testimonies as we spend time thinking the things of God and spending more time in His presence. I’m still in the process of implementing these truths, so please pray for me as I would be praying for you also. God bless you!