Are you feeling spiritually or emotionally sluggish? Are you often distracted from what is important? If so, you might have a filter problem.
Just as many mechanical devices depend on clean filters to run well, so we need good personal filters to protect our spiritual hearts. Proverbs 4:23 says it this way, “above all else guard your heart for from it flows the springs of life.”
What we see, listen to, or think about shapes our filters. Click To TweetFilters protect us. I’ve recently had to back away from attempting to build a hospitable relationship with an antagonistic acquaintance. Encounters with this man stirred up unproductive feelings and thoughts. Changing a conversation, redirecting unwholesome thinking, and avoiding certain situations help us sift out the bad and protect our hearts.
Signs of Good Filters
- Know we’re worth protecting.
God says we are of great value. He dwells in us. Growing up in a grocery store, I daily cleaned the windows of the ice cream case so customers would be attracted to the frozen delights. Protecting ourselves from unholy experiences that smudge our countenances isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of wisdom. We want clean lives that display His glory.
- Have strong discretion.
Cultivating a close relationship with God builds discretion. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 15:33). Sometimes habits, pressure from others, or guilt can clog our filters. Jesus says that we are clean from the word He speaks to us and the Holy Spirit will be our counselor.
May we all establish clean filters so that we can live robust lives with God. If we can help, please contact us. You are important to the Lord and to us.
Updates
Married couples are building new spiritual relationships with each other.
Please pray for the faith and security of children who have an unkind parent.
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Blessings,
Larry Wilson
Sometimes I link up with these great sites:
#IntentialTuesday, #w2wwordfilledwednesday, #Wedded Wednesday, #LivefreeThursday, #Thankful Thursdays, #Grace and Truth,
Absolutely essential and I have used the “filter” analogy because I think it is perfect. I totally agree – protecting ourselves is a sign of wisdom and displaying His glory is our purpose!
Amen, Ann!
maybe that’s what i felt yesterday when an acquaintance talked freely of her husband in bad language – yes, i want her to know and follow Christ, but i was put off and thinking that i don’t want to go further in the relationship. listening to the Spirit will let me know. thanks for this good post. near you at IT.
That’s right, Sue. Let the Spirit lead you. Jesus is our example. He loved the rich young ruler and moved on.
My hubby and I have been trying to think through and process out what are the kinds of offenses that we should “overlook” (Prov. 19:11), since this seems to be very unclear to us and to others we work with. I think that is what you are talking about here, Debbie. It’s something we all need to consider and let God and His word define who we are, what we think and do. Great thoughts!
Beth, do I hear another series coming? I love how you take what you’re learning and turn it into something we can all benefit from. Yes, Larry is highlighting that Scripture tells us to guard our hearts. That means we don’t let in whatever the world throws at us. Some we let go of. Others we avoid the best we can. Blessings, my friend.
Being at home most of the time, I don’t really get to interact with others outside the home. I needed this because it is something I need to work more on with my precious family. Thank you for linking up with Thankful Thursdays.