Guard Your Heart!
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Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 6718
Largo, MD 20792
Phone: (301) 386-2888
Email : info@carethacrawford.com
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23
This life will present many opportunities to become offended due to betrayal, backstabbing, misunderstanding, misrepresentation, lies and deceit. It’s life! Jesus said offenses would come (Matthew 18:7, Luke 17:1). As believers in Yeshua, Christ Jesus, we have a responsibility to guard our hearts against becoming excessively angry, bitter, resentful and retaliatory, when we are hurt and insulted by thoughtless individuals.
Everyone who is truly walking the walk and not just talking the talk of Christianity, are targets of offense. The more we mature in our faith and walk in our destinies, we are subject to contumelies. Nevertheless, “Guard Your Heart!” None of us can control another person’s actions, but we can control and monitor how we react.
God will allow us to be in situations where offenses will occur. When this happens, know that God is trying to position us for promotion. These situations or occurrences are designed to test, prove and strengthen us. Don’t abort or delay your next elevation by reacting to offenses in an unholy, ungodly manner. If you can’t recall an appropriate Bible verse at the moment, remember these words of wisdom from Michelle Obama, “When they go low, we go high!”
My dear loved ones, don’t allow anyone to drag you through the mud. Remember, people, yes, so called Christians, pastors and leaders in the body of Christ are hurting. Hurting people, hurt people. Have a sensitive heart, recognize where they are and where they are coming from. A grown man that is spewing vehement insults, has a little hurt boy on the inside. That grown woman, who is giving you a piece of her mind, is often speaking through the voice of a wounded little girl. It would be so easy to lash out at them and say all kinds of hurtful things in return — DON’T! Pray for them, wish them well and ask the Lord to send someone to minister to them. By doing so, you are guarding your own heart from offense.
Remember, Scripture tells us, that we will reap the seeds we sow. When we sow corrupted or tarnished seeds, we reap a corrupted or tarnished harvest (Galatians 6:7-8). Let’s not be vindictive, the Lord has promised, vengeance is mine, I will repay (Romans 12:19). Besides, when we react to insults in a godly manner, our light shines brightly. This kind of action provokes others to desire what we have. Additionally, we are commissioned by our Abba Father to provoke our Jewish sisters and brothers to jealousy by our loving and caring behavior (Romans 11:11).
Let’s be torch bearers! Someone is watching how brightly our lights are shining. Again, as believers in Yeshua, Christ Jesus, we have a responsibility to “Guard Our Hearts!”
Pray…
Lord, it is not always easy to hold my tongue when I am the recipient of insults. However, my desire is to please You. I want a pure heart toward You. So give me the strength to act the way You did when You were being insulted and pierced in the side on the cross. You did it for me. You are my example. I will follow You and bless my brothers and sisters even while in pain, because, they know not what they do! Thank You, Yeshua!
Posted by on Tuesday, October 10th, 2017 @ 10:23PM
Categories: Inspirational
Dr. Crawford, What a wonderful blessing you have been. I look forward to your inspirational messages each week. May God continue to Bless You.
Thank you for the encouragement, Rev. Sellman!
Great and timely reminder as always. Also nice photo of you and Pastor Pam.
Thank you!