Laela
Sidestepping the "lynch mob"
Judges 16 tells the story of Sampson and Delilah..a story many of us know well, I hope. Samson paid lip service to her about the source of his strength; it wasn't until he gave her his heart that she got the secret.
Prov 4:23 says to Guard your heart.... why? Because that is where Christ dwells {Eph 3:17}
It's a subject that came to me (again) this week in different ways. I enjoy how Got Questions.org breaks it down; so I'll share it here (paraphrased . I've added the link at bottom of post.
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Just as there can be diseases of the physical heart, there can be spiritual disease of the heart:
Hardening of the Heart
Atherosclerosis is a hardening of the arteries due to accumulated cholesterol plaques and scarring in the artery walls. Hardening of the spiritual heart can also occur. Hardening of the heart occurs when we are presented with God’s truth, and we refuse to acknowledge or accept it.
Although Egypt was stricken with one calamity after another when the Pharaoh refused to release the Israelites from their bondage, he hardened his heart against the truth that God Almighty intended to deliver His people from Egypt (Exodus 7:22, 8:32, 9:34). In Psalm 95:7-8, King David pleaded with his people not to harden their hearts in rebellion against God as they did in the wilderness. There are many things that can harden the heart and lead a person to deny God, and just like cholesterol blocks blood flow, they keep a believer from having a free flow of God’s peace and blessings derived from obedience.
1. Guarding against a rebellious spirit and cultivating a spirit of submissive obedience to God’s word, therefore, is the first step in guarding the heart.
Heart Murmurs:
Heart murmurs are abnormal flow patterns due to faulty heart valves. Heart valves act as doors to prevent backward flow of blood into the heart. Spiritual heart murmurs occur when believers engage in complaining, gossip, disputes, and contention. Believers are instructed many times to avoid grumbling, murmuring, and complaining (Exodus 16:3; John 6:43; Philippians 2:14). By engaging in these activities, believers shift their focus away from the plans, purposes, and past blessings of God to the things of the world. God sees this as a lack of faith, and without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Instead, Christians are instructed to strive for contentment in all things, trusting in God to provide what is needed in His good time (Hebrews 13:5).
2. Guarding against a complaining spirit and cultivating a spirit of gratitude and trust is the second step toward guarding the heart.
Congestive heart failure:
Congestive heart failure is an inability of the heart to successfully pump blood through the body due to weaknesses within its walls. Congestive heart failure can result from hypertension (high blood pressure), myocardial infarctions (heart attacks), and abnormal enlargement of the heart. The spiritual equivalents are anger, giving in to temptation, and pride. Of all of the deadly sins, anger can be the hardest one to avoid. Anger acts like a poison on the body, both physically and spiritually, and makes a believer more vulnerable to the temptation to hurt others with our actions and words. Ephesians 4:31-32 instructs, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” ...
Avoiding anger, pride and temptation are also critical elements of guarding the heart.
As God had cursed the ground after the fall, Cain had inherited the hardened earth to till. Thus he was farming on dead land and his offering wasn't living. So God couldn't accept it.
Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/guard-your-heart.html#ixzz2n2Vg4dDj
Prov 4:23 says to Guard your heart.... why? Because that is where Christ dwells {Eph 3:17}
It's a subject that came to me (again) this week in different ways. I enjoy how Got Questions.org breaks it down; so I'll share it here (paraphrased . I've added the link at bottom of post.
_________________________________________
Just as there can be diseases of the physical heart, there can be spiritual disease of the heart:
Hardening of the Heart
Atherosclerosis is a hardening of the arteries due to accumulated cholesterol plaques and scarring in the artery walls. Hardening of the spiritual heart can also occur. Hardening of the heart occurs when we are presented with God’s truth, and we refuse to acknowledge or accept it.
Although Egypt was stricken with one calamity after another when the Pharaoh refused to release the Israelites from their bondage, he hardened his heart against the truth that God Almighty intended to deliver His people from Egypt (Exodus 7:22, 8:32, 9:34). In Psalm 95:7-8, King David pleaded with his people not to harden their hearts in rebellion against God as they did in the wilderness. There are many things that can harden the heart and lead a person to deny God, and just like cholesterol blocks blood flow, they keep a believer from having a free flow of God’s peace and blessings derived from obedience.
1. Guarding against a rebellious spirit and cultivating a spirit of submissive obedience to God’s word, therefore, is the first step in guarding the heart.
Heart Murmurs:
Heart murmurs are abnormal flow patterns due to faulty heart valves. Heart valves act as doors to prevent backward flow of blood into the heart. Spiritual heart murmurs occur when believers engage in complaining, gossip, disputes, and contention. Believers are instructed many times to avoid grumbling, murmuring, and complaining (Exodus 16:3; John 6:43; Philippians 2:14). By engaging in these activities, believers shift their focus away from the plans, purposes, and past blessings of God to the things of the world. God sees this as a lack of faith, and without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Instead, Christians are instructed to strive for contentment in all things, trusting in God to provide what is needed in His good time (Hebrews 13:5).
2. Guarding against a complaining spirit and cultivating a spirit of gratitude and trust is the second step toward guarding the heart.
Congestive heart failure:
Congestive heart failure is an inability of the heart to successfully pump blood through the body due to weaknesses within its walls. Congestive heart failure can result from hypertension (high blood pressure), myocardial infarctions (heart attacks), and abnormal enlargement of the heart. The spiritual equivalents are anger, giving in to temptation, and pride. Of all of the deadly sins, anger can be the hardest one to avoid. Anger acts like a poison on the body, both physically and spiritually, and makes a believer more vulnerable to the temptation to hurt others with our actions and words. Ephesians 4:31-32 instructs, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” ...
Avoiding anger, pride and temptation are also critical elements of guarding the heart.
As God had cursed the ground after the fall, Cain had inherited the hardened earth to till. Thus he was farming on dead land and his offering wasn't living. So God couldn't accept it.
Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/guard-your-heart.html#ixzz2n2Vg4dDj
And you too, Precious Sister. 
