Keeping God at the center of our lives
If I focus on people more than Jesus, then they become the center of my life. My life is my inner life first and foremost: my thoughts, emotions, desires. What or who am I allowing into my heart? How do I practically guard my heart? "Halt! You cannot enter here!" I can speak these words out loud to anyone or anything trying to overstep my boundaries. "You are not allowed into my heart, for it is holy ground because Jesus lives there." Things that cannot abide in the same place where Jesus is: - hurt - unforgiveness - lust - pride (being "right") - fear - doubt - people's opinion of me - confusion - worry over a perceived lack of resources - fearing the future based on past experience - comparisons This is not an exhaustive list, but you get the point. But when I let Christ rule in my heart as the center of my heart and life, I am trading the above list in for this list of rich benefits: - peace - love - joy - boldness - courage - wisdom - knowle