Creating a Covenant of Love: Teaching the young the care of the HEART! Part 2

As I mentioned in my last article, I have had my challenges with negative thoughts flooding my heart to the point I’ve had to stand up and SCREAM at the top of my lungs “STOP!” It’s hard to change adult thoughts, so I can’t imagine what it is like for young people, but, on the other hand, I can imagine because I hear their stories. 

I don’t want to see them lose Heart! I want them to be a great Warrior of their Heart!

We are all in a whirlwind with everything going on today, especially when I see the trauma and sickness from Covid-19 and how racial trauma and tension are impacting the world on a global level. It is more important than ever to keep a level head and THINK because where our thoughts are taking us is more challenging than ever before. 

First and foremost, the HEART Matters

The Heart is more than an organ pumping blood through our bodies. The Heart is a gauge navigating life. God includes instructions about the care of the Heart and how to think; therefore, our Hearts matter to God.

It is never too late to teach children that their Heart matters (yes, I’m stealing). Above all else, we are to guard our hearts. Those words tell us that our hearts are necessary for living life and matters to God. Thus, our hearts have to matter to us.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (NIV) 

“Watch over your Heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” (NASB)

“Above all else” means our responsibility is over and above all other factors or considerations. Our job is essential. It is critical. It is serious. It is dangerous, and it is risky. These words explain the type of attention we are to pay to our Hearts. “Above all else” and above anything that you may think necessary, nothing is more important than your Heart.

Guard your HEART, First, it is a job that we have. God provided instructions in His Word for humankind. Watching our thoughts and where those thoughts come from is essential. Guard is like being the gate around the Heart picking and choosing what is allowed and what is not. Watching provides the same protection of the Heart.  

Taking care of the Heart is a fight for life. I like the word “Warrior” of our Hearts. Warrior is about warfare, and we are in combat over the Heart every day.

Our Hearts matter because it is where life springs, be it good, bad, or indifferent. What is the primary complaint today? “I couldn’t sleep at all last night. I was tossing and turning.” Yep! I used those words because they describe a sleepless night when our minds will not stop. I think we’ve all had those types of nights. But, think about what it does to the Heart. How many times do you feel tired before the day starts? The Heart needs rest and not the bombardment of “what if’s” and all the things we think about causing us to have sleepless nights.

With all diligence 

I like this word. I worked in the retirement industry where due diligence was a priority. All plan documents and employee/employer contributions must satisfy the legal requirements established by the Employee Benefits Administration Services. It is a painstaking practice, especially when you are working with plans servicing thousands of lives.

I say this because it is a painstaking practice to watch and guard over the Heart with all diligence. Diligence means careful and persistent work, which is the same as due diligence because our goal is to please the GREAT I AM.

Thoughts are like transactions going in and out of our minds. What we choose to entertain or dwell on is essential to the well-being of the Heart. In essence, we are making agreements with those thoughts. 

While I write this article, I’m thinking of ways to have better diligence or some bibles use vigilance or watchfulness, or even due diligence of my Heart. I want to become a better watcher, a better guard, a better warrior of my Heart, and I hope you do, too.

The cost connected to becoming a Warrior of the Heart is high, but the price of not stepping into the battle is deadly. 

If we are looking for something different to happen we must form a Covenant of Love for a healthy HEART today, and tomorrow might be different.

Tweet