The Welfare of Your Innermost Being
“Fill your thoughts with my words until they penetrate deep into your spirit. Then, as you unwrap my words, they will impart true life and radiant health into the very core of your being. So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:21-23 TPT
Many times we may say “we don’t care,” or “whatever” when we’re truly hurting inside. We may have questions, we’re worried and unsure. God tells us not to ignore those sensations. You see, He’s looking out for our hearts, our inner wellbeing, even when we’re not.
Our hurts can easily become who we are. We wear the scars on our face; if something seems badly familiar we may retreat, keep our distance from a person, or fight back. Keeping the hurt inside rots our bones, we become ill and we cannot enjoy life to the fullest.
How can we stop this cycle? What can we do? We can start by filling our minds with God’s words, with His truth--the true truth. Keep them in your mind until they pierce your spirit and you carry it everywhere you go.
But you can’t stop there, you now have to guard what’s inside of you. Protect it, cherish it, and defend it. When you protect the seeds of God’s truth planted inside of you, it can grow and blossom into a beautiful field. And truth will begin to overflow out of your heart, into your mind, and out from your mouth.
Of course, we will get triggered. A person you weren’t expecting to see arrives to the same event as you, or a friend casually brings up a topic you weren’t ready to discuss. It’s not over; you are not perfect and are human, we can get emotional at times. But we have to pay attention to what is actually having an affect on us, what breaks you, what causes you to crumble?
Recently a friend shared something with me that just got stuck in my head. It was a simple comment but it made the wheels of doubt and insecurity turn in my mind and heart. That night I brought it to God, “Oh God, what do I do with this feeling?”
Once your heart feels an offense or any kind of hurt, it affects all of you. It doesn’t just stay in that place, it affects all that you are--your physical health, your relationships, your productivity, your passion. I’ve been in that place before, of self-pity and doubt, I knew I did not want to go back, I needed to remember His truth.
I opened up my Bible and searched for scripture about the heart, and it led me to Ecclesiastes 7:21 “Do not take to heart all the things that people say”. I was stunned--that’s in the Bible?
I asked again, “But how, God? How can I not?”
I felt in my heart Him telling me, “My grace is sufficient.” Yes, yes it is. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
From there my heart was not broken. I leaned on to His grace, it cast away the feelings of doubt and insecurity, and I walked around singing “His power is made perfect in my weakness.” I love that He doesn’t shame us for being weak. I needed help, and He came to my rescue. He saved me from my self-destructive cycle.
Freedom is here. You don’t have to meltdown after every offense or ignorant comments and stay there; instead, pay attention to those feelings and the welfare of your heart. Take it to God, search through His word, what does He have to say about it? Listen to God’s truth; it will bring the peace that you need.
Many times we may say “we don’t care,” or “whatever” when we’re truly hurting inside. We may have questions, we’re worried and unsure. God tells us not to ignore those sensations. You see, He’s looking out for our hearts, our inner wellbeing, even when we’re not.
Our hurts can easily become who we are. We wear the scars on our face; if something seems badly familiar we may retreat, keep our distance from a person, or fight back. Keeping the hurt inside rots our bones, we become ill and we cannot enjoy life to the fullest.
How can we stop this cycle? What can we do? We can start by filling our minds with God’s words, with His truth--the true truth. Keep them in your mind until they pierce your spirit and you carry it everywhere you go.
But you can’t stop there, you now have to guard what’s inside of you. Protect it, cherish it, and defend it. When you protect the seeds of God’s truth planted inside of you, it can grow and blossom into a beautiful field. And truth will begin to overflow out of your heart, into your mind, and out from your mouth.
Of course, we will get triggered. A person you weren’t expecting to see arrives to the same event as you, or a friend casually brings up a topic you weren’t ready to discuss. It’s not over; you are not perfect and are human, we can get emotional at times. But we have to pay attention to what is actually having an affect on us, what breaks you, what causes you to crumble?
Recently a friend shared something with me that just got stuck in my head. It was a simple comment but it made the wheels of doubt and insecurity turn in my mind and heart. That night I brought it to God, “Oh God, what do I do with this feeling?”
Once your heart feels an offense or any kind of hurt, it affects all of you. It doesn’t just stay in that place, it affects all that you are--your physical health, your relationships, your productivity, your passion. I’ve been in that place before, of self-pity and doubt, I knew I did not want to go back, I needed to remember His truth.
I opened up my Bible and searched for scripture about the heart, and it led me to Ecclesiastes 7:21 “Do not take to heart all the things that people say”. I was stunned--that’s in the Bible?
I asked again, “But how, God? How can I not?”
I felt in my heart Him telling me, “My grace is sufficient.” Yes, yes it is. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
From there my heart was not broken. I leaned on to His grace, it cast away the feelings of doubt and insecurity, and I walked around singing “His power is made perfect in my weakness.” I love that He doesn’t shame us for being weak. I needed help, and He came to my rescue. He saved me from my self-destructive cycle.
Freedom is here. You don’t have to meltdown after every offense or ignorant comments and stay there; instead, pay attention to those feelings and the welfare of your heart. Take it to God, search through His word, what does He have to say about it? Listen to God’s truth; it will bring the peace that you need.
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