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“Joy Stealers“, which I wrote about in  yesterday’s devotional, creep in on us gradually, subtly and deceptively. Their main entry points are through our eyes (what we see, or read) and through our ears(what we hear). 

For a lot of us, everything is fine, until we receive a call, or a visit; and that evening, someone would be told,

 
“We need to talk!“

For some, everything seems fine until they see some pictures and comments on Facebook or Twitter! 

I know someone who destroyed a very beautiful relationship, beautiful home,  and nearly lost the life as well; just because the mother made a comparison with a cousin who was “doing well”!

What we see, hear and believe has a lot of influence on us.

READ Proverbs 4:20-23

“My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.

Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;

For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.

Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.”
(Proverbs 4:20-23)

The heart is the source of everything we do and every action we take (vv. 23). What we keep in our heart is what floats in our mind; and is transformative!

Romans 12:2 says,
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

On Proverbs 4:23, this is what the Matthew Henry commentary says:

“We must maintain a holy jealousy of ourselves, and set a strict guard, accordingly, upon all the avenues of the soul; keep our hearts from doing hurt and getting hurt, from being defiled by sin and disturbed by trouble; keep them as our jewel, as our vineyard; keep a conscience void of offence; keep out bad thoughts; keep up good thoughts; keep the affections upon right objects and in due bounds. Keep them with all keeping. There are many ways of keeping things—by care, by strength, by calling in help, and we must use them all in keeping our hearts. Or above all keepings; we must keep our hearts with more care and diligence than we keep any thing else. We must keep our eyes (Job. 31:1 ), keep our tongues (Ps. 34:13 ), keep our feet (Eccl. 5:1 ), but, above all, keep our hearts.”

It all starts from the heart, so we need to guard our hearts with all jealousy, and we will keep the “Joy Stealers” out.

MEMORY VERSE
“Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.”
(Proverbs 4:23)

QUESTIONS
1. Do you know that an apparently harmless phone call changed people’s lives, sometimes perpetually?

2. Would you protect yourself, by actively choosing what you see, hear, believe and act on?

PRAYER TIP
Father, please help us to carefully choose what we see, hear, read and act on; In Jesus’ name.

Written by:

BENNY MALM

For:

TESTIMONY DEVOTIONAL

URGENT CALL

By nature, we are all sinful, and enemies of God. and we face the wrath of God! But God in His mercy and love gives us a chance to become His children, join His family, and be part of His household!

The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for you to be saved. 

Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Personal Saviour. It is a very personal decision, which no one can make for you!

If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God!

Do you want to make that decision today?

Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” for guidance.

We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page.

God richly bless you.

SPECIAL GRATITUDE

Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website. 

We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.

We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.

God richly bless you.

The Testimony Devotional website addresses are:

https://testimonydevotional.org/ https://testimonydevotional.com/

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