By Dr.James D. Treadwell,Jr.

Guard Your Heart ❤️ 
Your heart is a vital part of your entire being. This is why each of us should do everything within our power to protect this precious organ of ours. Heart health is of great importance, as it is directly connected to the longevity of one's life. Just as it is very wise to guard your natural heart, likewise your spiritual heart must be guarded as well. We are being inundated with information about COVID-19, quarantine regulations, dates, the death toll, with innumerable specifications. If you're not careful there's a chance you'll become overwhelmed.

This is why we must guard our hearts. Ephesians chapter 6 talks about the whole armor of God. We guard our hearts with the breastplate of righteousness and the shield of faith. It's quenching time. It's time to quench bad news. Also take heed how you hear; In what manner you hear. Luke 8:18 KJV says "Take heed therefore how ye hear for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. "Furthermore the scripture says "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." The Amplified Classic version uses the word vigilance in the place of diligence. "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life." (Pr. 4:23) Keep and guard are the verbs in this directive; The action words listed. With all vigilance denotes you taking responsibility on your own like a vigilante, except you have been given scriptural permission. It's your heart, so be motivated to keep a careful watch on it. To what degree are you listening to bad reports? Take heed, it may be time to walk away from the news without becoming ignorant of updates. Be encouraged to guard the good word that's in your heart.

8 Ways to Guard Your Heart:

📍Pay attention to the information you allow in by being selective.

📍Take heed how you hear and receive news by staying in faith.

📍Cover your heart with the breastplate of righteousness.

📍Shield your heart with the "shield of faith".

📍Protect thoughts with the helmet of salvation which preserves soundness of mind.

📍Quench the darts from the enemy by putting out little fires before they affect you.

📍Take note of the condition in which you are hearing and listen with a pure heart.

📍Monitor the frequency of reports that you hear that are not aligned with the word.

In doing so, the joy and peace that you have will be increased.