BELOVED, THERE MAY BE MANY THINGS IN OUR LIVES THAT WE WANT TO “GUARD,” SUCH AS OUR HEALTH OR CAREERS, BUT GOD WANTS US TO GUARD OUR HEARTS ABOVE ALL ELSE, AND HE WILL GUARD THE REST!

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

GOSPEL CORNER

21/09/24

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and…said, “What are those feeble Jews doing?…Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?”
Nehemiah 4:1–2, NIV

STAY ON THE WALLS
Nehemiah was courageously leading the effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and restore safety to its inhabitants when two men, Sanballat and Tobiah, opposed him. They started stirring up trouble, spreading rumors about Nehemiah’s motives, making false accusations, and gathering other enemies to stop the work. But however much Nehemiah was tempted to straighten them out, he refused to be baited into conflict and kept working, completing the walls in record time. He put his reputation and purpose in God’s hands and focused on what he was called to do.

It’s no different today. Anytime you step up to do the right thing, don’t be surprised if someone finds fault, questions your motives, and says things that are not true. If you were sitting around being mediocre, no one would care. The fact that people are trying to discredit you, trying to make you look bad, that’s a sign that you’re doing something right, you’re making a difference, you’re leaving your mark. You keep doing the right thing, and God will take care of Sanballat and Tobiah.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You that You have given me walls to rebuild and a purpose to fulfill. Give me wisdom to know when what is coming against me is simply a distraction that will get me off course. I believe that You are my defender and will fight those.

The Bible tells us that the heart is where the issues of life spring forth. What we allow to enter our hearts will affect our thoughts, actions, and even our bodies. In other words, the condition of one’s heart determines the course of one’s life!

That is why Jesus, who bequeathed to us His peace, tells us, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). So if we want to walk in His peace and rest, we need to guard our hearts and not let them spiral into negative thoughts, worry, and fear. The Book of Wisdom also tells us that a peaceful and cheerful heart promotes health (Prov. 17:22 NIV).

Beloved, there may be many things in our lives that we want to “guard,” such as our health or careers, but God wants us to guard our hearts above all else, and He will guard the rest!