Happy New Year!

Well, after a two week absence Devos are back! I'm full of new ideas, inspiration, and hair-brained schemes. You never know what kind of yummy goodies will come out of the oven when you cook with your pets.

Enough small talk, let's get to it.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Prov. 4:23)

What have you allowed into your heart lately? What have you intentionally put into your heart lately? These are tough questions to answer because we may not want to face that list. There are probably things in your list of what has gone into your heart lately that you wouldn't want others to talk about, things you are ashamed to admit. Proverbs tells us that what goes into our heart is seriously important. It puts it at number one on the list of places to guard.

Every new year people make lists of things to improve or goals to attain. Most common are the goals for better health. Physical health is very important. Many products, from cereals to sports drinks, aim at promoting a health heart. Exercise programs and eating plans are easily accessible. In the world of nutrition taking care of your heart is of primary importance. But, according to the wisest man that ever lived, and the God who inspired him, taking care of your spiritual heart is more important.

Here are some key ways and ingredients to a healthy spiritual heart;

1) You need a steady diet of truth. I'm talking about the kind of truth that comes from God's word. (Luke 4:4)

2) You also need daily servings of worship. Worship is a multi-faceted way to honor, and know God. (Psalm 96)

3) I also recommend getting frequent check-ups through prayer. Take time each day to communicate with God through confession, thanksgiving, and petitions. (Matt. 6:9-13)

4) Being healthy also means making choices not to take in things that are bad for you. Avoid anything that your heart desires more than God, and avoid what dishonors the purity of the heart he has given you.

If you want a healthy physical heart you take in what is healthy and avoid what is destructive. As you seek to have a healthy heart before God he will reveal to you the destructive ingredients that you need to take out of your diet. He will also be faithful to offer his truth, guidance, strength and hope for your heart to be a wellspring of life.

For an easy checkup have a friend or family member asses whether they have see you as life giving or life taking. If your heart is healthy before God life will come out of it. If you are filling your heart with things that are not of God then if will try and take life from others. "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart...For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:48)

- Josh