Teachable Moments: Guarding Our Hearts

The current sermon series at my church is called "Love Song". It's a series were we are learning about singleness, dating, and marriage. Today was the first sermon I was able to hear from this series and it was very fitting. I love that what I am learning at church right now also ties in with our theme this month, "Guarding Your Heart". This morning's sermon had a lot of good things to say. What I will be taking with me today is this passage from Psalm 37...

1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
    or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
    like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
    do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
    but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

If you read the first line of each of these stanzas you will see that every one of them is a command. Do not, trust, commit, be still, and refrain are the words that begin each of these sentences. No matter our life circumstances or relationship status, these commands are good to put into practice in our lives because they help us to become more like our loving God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 

Galatians 5:22-23

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 

Philippians 4:8