One of the things I do as a mom is do the best I can to set my children up for success. Mind you, I do not pave the way for them, fluff them up, or provide a false sense of security. After all, I am raising godly spouses and parents. I don’t want them ill prepared for those jobs. I want their minds focused on the Lord, their bodies prepared for whatever may come, and their souls armed for a world that will challenge them. Therefore, I give them boundaries to guard their hearts, minds, and bodies to guide them in a direction for success, a direction leading straight to Christ.

The same goes for my health. I set myself up for success by removing temptations that cause me to stumble. I guard my heart by thinking about what is true, noble, and right by filling it with Jesus. I wouldn’t leave my almost 2 year old alone with a bowl full of candy, in the same way you wouldn’t find me at a Krispy Kreme with cash in my pocket.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you,” (Philippians 4: 8-9).

Paul writes to the Philippians to fill their hearts full of Jesus by thinking about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy. Paul asks them to discern what will give their hearts joy by pointing out what a heart full of Jesus can do. I am asking you to do the same thing and fill your heart full of Jesus. Fill it to the brim and wipe out the enemy’s stronghold upon your life. If you know that having a Hershey bar on the ride home from the grocery store, will result in ice cream tonight after dinner then turn unto a donut or three in the morning, then remove that temptation from your life. Set yourself up for success.

Fix your mind upon the Lord.

Guard the condition of your heart. 

Is what you are doing to your body true, noble, lovely? What you do to your body, you do to the Lord. It is as simple as that. Set yourself up for success by filling your heart with Jesus. Fill it until it overflows, sister.

Praying peace.

P31Wife

Tomorrow: Day 4: Practical Application for Guarding Your Heart.