My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
—Proverbs 4:20-23 (NLT)
Your heart determines the course of your life. What you believe is what you receive. If you believe something that is different from what the Word says, then that is what you will receive. If you want to receive what God promises you, know and believe what the Word reveals.
“Pay attention and listen carefully to what I say in my Word,” God says. “If you let my words pierce your heart, you shall discover my complete wholeness of life and healing for your body.”
These verses are a life-changing Truth!
When I was in the hospital in April, I was very confused because of sodium loss. I couldn’t concentrate on anything. Medical staff worked with me, and I didn’t know what they were doing. Doctors asked questions, and I didn’t know what they asked or what I answered. In the midst of my mental confusion, the Holy Spirit encouraged me. I knew I needed a Word from God to hold on to. A friend gave me these verses in Proverbs 4, and I grabbed hold of them with all the mental strength that I could find. They spoke life and healing to me. I chose to believe their Truth. When I couldn’t remember the things that were happening around me, I could remember His Words of promise in Proverbs 4:20-23. I knew if I allowed His Truth to pierce my heart, I would discover wholeness and healing for my body.
In the New King James Version, Proverbs 4:23 reads, “Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it spring the issues of life.”
Keep your heart safe, the Holy Spirit said. My Truth is life to you. What you believe will determine what happens to you. Believe sick and you will be sick. Believe health, and you will experience health. Out of your heart spring the issues of life you will experience—either death or life—blessing or curse. Believe my Truth.
During the next seven months with continuing health issues, I held on to these verses in Proverbs and let them penetrate my heart. Hearing the Word with my heart, my faith grew (Romans 10:17). I began to understand that I couldn’t guard my heart if I didn’t allow His Word to transform the way I thought. What I believed had to be His Truth. It had to take root and grow in me.
Can I share some of what He has taught me? What you read or see or listen to ends up filling your mind and becoming what you believe. You have to be careful what you put in your heart. You want the promises of God to be real in your life? Put those in your heart. The Word will build your faith. Anything else will fight against His Truth for your life.
Think about the good things of God in the Word that build your faith (Philippians 4:8). Don’t be conformed to things that are contrary to what the Word says about you. Allow God’s Truth to transform your thinking until what you believe in the depths of your heart is what His Word promises (Romans 12:2). Guard your heart with the power of God that lives in you. It is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. (Ephesians 1:19-20). Rebuke the enemy who comes to steal, kill, and destroy the abundant life Christ died to give you (John 10:10). One day you will believe, and ultimately receive.
“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, even as your soul is well” (3 John 3:2, MEV).
God wants good health for all His children. When my soul—my mind—believes His Truth, my soul is well. His fullness is alive in me. And what do I receive? Good health.
By His stripes, I was healed (1 Peter 2:24, NKJV). I believe that I'm a healed child of God. That is who I am. I know in my heart that I have already received what Jesus died to give me.
Who do you believe?
©2021 Lynn Lacher
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