Deuteronomy 5:29 “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!”
Our hearts can be fluttery, funny, fickle, or flat. There are some whose lives run on emotion. They ride a scary rollercoaster through life wherever their feelings take them.
One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is temperance. Webster’s dictionary defines it this way:
“TEM’PERANCE, n. L. temperantia, from tempero.
1. Moderation; particularly, habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions; restrained or moderate indulgence; as temperance in eating and drinking; temperance in the indulgence of joy or mirth. Temperance in eating and drinking is opposed to gluttony and drunkenness, and in other indulgences, to excess.
2. Patience; calmness; sedateness; moderation of passion.”
The second definition of patience, calmness, sedateness, and moderation of passion speaks to the heart’s matters. Our ability to control our emotions instead of them controlling us is a matter of great importance.
We see throughout the Bible of men and women whose passions brought them trouble. Look at Samson, David, and even Peter. Peter declared he was willing to die for Jesus and instead ended up denying Him three times.
We must be wary of the biblical mandates for our hearts.
Deuteronomy 4:9 “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;“
Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
The influences that affect our hearts have increased exponentially over the years. The guarding of our hearts can seem like an all-out war at times. But, war we must!
God desires our hearts to be specially tuned to His voice.
A parent loves when a child listens and obeys their voice. It is no different from God. We can please Him whenever we listen, heed, and act on what we hear.
Today, let us give in to simple, humble obedience. In so doing, we will please our Heavenly Father and knit our hearts with the One who has our best interest in mind!
Daily Manna 