| Guarded |

It’s funny the things that the Lord starts teaching you and then you figure out why He was working so hard to teach you something. 

I have always struggled with never letting anyone close to me because I didn’t want to get hurt. Eventually, my pastor got ahold of me and showed me that putting up those barriers was no way to live. 

I finally began to open my heart and let people in. The issue with doing this, was that I was never taught how to guard my heart correctly. I let them in and then I proceeded to let them stomp on my heart as well. I just kept getting bitter and didn’t understand why people would do this to me after I let them in. I didn’t know that through all of it, the best way to guard my heart I needed to learn how to have a pure heart. 

No matter who hurt me, or who loved me, I would be able to love them with God’s love. 

| Gossip |

God is always trying to teach us principles in our lives through situations that can prepare us for our future. These situations are typically caused by us not listening or not following Gods path for our lives. No one has ever handled a situation perfectly 100%, but we can learn the process of how to deal with our issues biblically. 

One issue I’ve seen rise up in the church recently is this constant battle with gossip. Every believer is told that gossip is wrong and that it is speaking death into others lives. The funny thing, is that it still happens everywhere. The most common trait associated with gossip is someone who is not spiritually mature. 

As a Christian, we typically talk about spiritual maturity in the same way as physical maturity, but just because a person may be physically 30, they may still be a baby Christian.

A spiritually mature person is a peacemaker, not a troublemaker. 

“Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. . . .You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way” (James 4:1, 3b).

We need to learn to take those that are gossiping and figure out the spiritually immature aspects of their life to help them grow. It is our responsibility to help our pastor with his sheep, not hurt. Gossip is like a sword and when you listen to it, you are stabbing yourself. 

As believers, we know better. We must keep a pure heart to know the truth. We must learn how to speak often and use words when necessary. Start praying for God to give you a pure heart and see what He does. Be sure to be strong in your Word that you can stand strong against the trials.