Proverbs 4:23- Keep your heart with all diligence: for out of it are the issues of life.
THE HEART OF MAN
Jeremiah 17:9,10 -The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. As humans, we are made of the spirit, the soul and the body. Our soul is made of will (for decision making), emotion (for feelings, good or bad) and mind/heart for information storage. The storage house (the heart) receives its contents from the five (5) senses; ears (hearing), body (touching) and eyes (seeing/watching); mouth (tasting/speaking) and the nose (smelling). The first three senses – ears, eyes and body are the ones we are quick to fall for, but the mouth through tasting or unguarded speech have been known to cause trouble for the heart – Mother Eve and the spies that spoke unadvisedly are quick examples. We should therefore mind the senses for they are the commonest and fastest entry points of dangerous, harmful
and deadly elements to our system. Remember also that “faith” (in God, or in anything) comes from hearing. You can only believe what you hear or see. So, hear things that will help your relationship with God. Genesis 6:5 – And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
TOXICITY – From simple dictionary definitions, we have the word toxicity from toxic to be pernicious; the degree of being. deadly, or poisonous or harmful. The toxic materials include the thought of any form of sexual immorality, thought of stealing or cheating on others; thought of committing any form of crime; thought of carelessly disobeying the words or instructions of GOD, and many other harmful things that are first conceived in the heart before the action is taken. We must quickly note the words of Christ that when the heart thinks on evil, it is tantamount to acting out the evil. Check Matthew 5:28 and Proverbs 23:7. The world we are in today is full of toxic materials. The unfortunate thing is that many immoral, indecent and unrighteous things and affairs seem to be taken for good and corruption now flows unguarded. Our world is sick; our society is very unhealthy; the darkness has covered the heart and gross darkness the people. Some societies do not see anything wrong in divorce, gay marriages, abortion, indecent dressing, immoral acts in the shows on our TVs and unrighteous music and slangs among the people, especially the
youth.
WHAT TO DO
You see, the heart is very critical to our entire living. A man’s way of life, action, talk, dressing, or attitude is a function of the corruptness or cleanness of his heart. Psalm 119:9 – How shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to your word. 11- Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin
against you. Matthew 15:19 – For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness,
blasphemies: What then do we do in guarding our heart against toxicity?
First, befriend the word of GOD. Know that you cannot befriend someone you do not know; this then means you must
know God and His Christ. You must have Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life that you may receive the power of being a child of God.
Secondly, you must make adequate effort to grow in the word of GOD and obey every of His instructions. You must flush out the toxics by the word of GOD and this is when you make effort
to grow in and fill your heart with His words.
Thirdly, you must run, flee and abstain from all appearances of evil,1 Thessalonians 5:22.
Fourthly, take heed what you hear; take heed what you do with others; take heed who you relate with; take heed what you watch; take heed who touches you or who you touch, take heed the music you listen to and whose words you give attention to.
Fifthly, ask for the Holy Spirit of God to fill you and take you over. Acts 1:8 – You shall receive power after the Holy Ghost comes upon you. Move as He leads you. Do nothing without
Him. Seek His help where and when necessary. Let Him be your true partner.