Keep Your Heart — PRINCESS SERVANT WARRIOR

“Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.”

— Proverbs 4:23

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

— Ephesians 3:14-19

Women experience the cyclical nature of this world directly through our bodies in a way men never will. Our female brains are also uniquely gifted and burdened by their ability to multitask full speed 24/7, like a supercomputer with 50 tabs open at once. All the roles a woman fills daily take more of a toll than ever now that constant noise pollution from technology drains our peace and energy. When we look at how God created the seasons and our bodies to ebb and flow, we recognize God observed a day of rest during Creation to teach us we need times of quietness to refuel our souls. Jesus himself often took time out of His demanding ministry to connect with God (Mark 1:35, Luke 5:15-16). Our non-stop media centered culture relies on technology to help us unwind and fill all the awkward moments of downtime we might otherwise use to think, sort through our feelings, or say a quick prayer. Our light switch is stuck in the “On” position. Yet, one human brain can only take in so much information and process so much emotion before the wear and tear involved produce consequences. Since this is a season when we’re more likely to be concerned about educating ourselves on current events and more of us are likely to be at home with the TV and the computer on most of the day, we need to take time to think about these consequences.

Can you remember the last time worry stole your sleep? How many distressing things did you see this week on your social media feed or the news that still haunted you hours later? How long has it been since you heard or said something argumentative or offensive that left you struggling? For most of us, there were probably more times than we like.

Now here’s what truly matters. How many of those incidents had necessary and useful reasons for you and your family to experience such problematic emotions? Was it possible for you to prevent some of those incidents from happening? How many opportunities to give and receive godly love and encouragement were spent on anger, discouragement, and fear instead?

We experience a thrill when we listen to or spread terrible news, scandal, arguing, mockery, criticism, or pessimism. The reason we see so few stories about firefighters rescuing puppies isn’t that good things aren’t happening. In reality, our addiction to showing the dark side of life fuels money-making TV ratings and social media shares, so the world keeps creating more reactionary, controversial, and exaggerated content. There’s a widespread misconception that raging against the “other side,” pointing out why we’re right, using “us versus them” language, and making pessimistic predictions somehow makes us virtuous, intelligent, and responsible citizens. However, the fear, worry, anger, and resentment that inevitably follow this sort of communication does not come from God and does not produce godly attitudes and actions (Proverbs 14:15-16, Proverbs 15:18, 33, James 1:19-21). God tells us that a righteous, wise person uses careful discretion and self-control in their communication. But the ungodly and the foolish are quick to speak or act on whatever they are thinking or feeling (Proverbs 9:7-9, Proverbs 10:11-12, 18-21, 32, Proverbs 11:12-13, 22, Proverbs 12:16-18, Proverbs 14:1-3, 9, Proverbs 15:23, 26, 28). The Bible warns us repeatedly about how destructive upsetting words and thoughts can be (Proverbs 15:1-4, Psalm 37:8, 30-31, Ephesians 4:26-27).

People in a negative mental and emotional state are far more vulnerable to sin and manipulation by the forces of evil and the powers of this world. Yet, few of us recognize the fragile mental and emotional state we’re cultivating when we passively receive information and entertainment, mistakenly thinking that’s how we stay informed and connected. Every political party, social organization, company, influencer, or media source has an agenda separate from God’s plan, no matter what noble labels or morals they profess. Such human-made groups and individuals have no reservations about manipulating our hearts to achieve those goals, even at the expense of our spiritual and physical well-being.

While Christians must equip themselves to make educated decisions and stand up for what is right, how and when we do this determine whether or not we are living out our claim to be followers of Christ. When we consistently fill our minds and hearts with unnecessarily sensational information or media, these destructive influences can wear away and infect the eternally based joy, peace, and love Christians need to cultivate in their hearts (Proverbs 15:13). Instead of a light in the darkness, the world will then see the same dangerous and sinful issues they are grappling with when they look to us as an example (Matthew 5:14-16).

While we can’t deny or ignore sin, giving our attention to the darkness doesn't help dispel it; spending time and energy focusing on evil just lets the devil have the spotlight. The Bible says we can not serve two masters, so nothing of this world should displace God by governing our thoughts and emotions and changing our words and behavior (Matthew 6:24, 33). Unless godly influences dominate our entertainment and information sources, we’re giving a more significant place to worldly ideas and attitudes that could cause us or someone we influence to stumble. We’re responsible for examining the sources of our information and entertainment and managing our intake of these materials. For example, most of us regularly deal with worry and discouragement, so watching the news or scrolling through social media right before bed are not helpful, well-timed choices. Just as we understand that complaining about our problems would be inappropriate while visiting a friend in the hospital, we must be intentional with how and when we allow negative things into our minds or out of our mouths. Our hearts and the hearts of our loved ones require both protection from unnecessary stresses and careful preparation for the times when unpleasantness is unavoidable (Psalm 73:26, Proverbs 17:22, Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:8).

If we fill our hearts with media and conversations full of anger or fear, that is the kind of destructive content that will come out of our mouths. Luke 6:45 says,

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. ”

So that we can have a godly standard to go by, God dictates to us through Paul what is acceptable entertainment and communication for Christians in Ephesians 4:29-32.

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Paul continues his instructions in Ephesians 5:1-4, 8-12, and 15-21.

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. … For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret … See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is … but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.”

Watching our thoughts and words is especially necessary when we or those around us have an increased need for strength and encouragement. Our brothers and sisters are valuable counselors. Coming to each other for advice, help, or a shoulder to cry on is certainly scriptural, but as always, discretion and timing are essential. When someone is trapped in sin, dealing with stress or suffering, or when we meet as Christians to worship God, the last thing God would have us do is choose conversations that stir up problematic feelings like fear, discouragement, hurt, or anger in our neighbors. Meanwhile, we walk away, gratified that we got to express our opinions and vent our feelings.

If we want to fight the good fight as soldiers of God, we don’t do it by quarreling, complaining, or criticizing. This world’s problems are ultimately spiritual ones, so the struggle is not physical, fought with human methods. Our battle is fought and won through the love of God within our hearts. We lead through example and speak the truth in love to a broken world (Psalm 42:1-2, Galatians 6:1, Ephesians 6:12, 1 John 5:4).

If our attitudes, words, and actions harm us or another or call attention to the suffering and evil of this world instead of to God, we’re helping the devil dim the light of God’s love and truth and spread strife, anger, fear, and despair. To remain rooted in God’s love and keep our lights burning in this dark world, we must measure everything we allow into our minds and out of our mouths by God’s standards. Once we become intentional with how and when we receive or share thoughts and emotions, God’s light and love can shine out clearly in us like a beacon breaking through the darkness.

“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others … Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,”

— Philippians 2:1-4, 14-15