Guard Your Heart

Every once in a while, I watch the Food Network show, Chopped. For each show, they bring in four chefs, who compete through three challenges, with one eliminated / “chopped” after each round. The chefs are given baskets (the same for all the chefs) with various ingredients that don’t necessarily go well together. Under tight time constraints, they have to prepare a dish for the judges using all the ingredients.

In the heat of the battle, mistakes are made. Sometimes, required ingredients don’t make it to the plate. In this show, a chef in a hurry rolled up a tortilla shell on an uncleaned cutting board where raw chicken had been cut up. That one mistake may have cost the competitor/chef the $ 10,000 prize … she got “chopped.”

All it takes is one careless moment, whether it’s under pressure or without thinking, to wreak havoc on our lives. That is why it is so important that we guard our hearts:

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

Guarding our hearts involves preparation when we’re not under pressure, making sure that we are walking closely with God in the best of times. It also involves checking ourselves and listening to others when we are under pressure. We must constantly ask ourselves whether there is anything that is getting in the way of our relationship with God, and be careful of blind spots. David knew this, and he plead,

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

So, today’s encouragement is to guard your heart... make sure it is right and tender toward God. If it is, we’re much more likely to avoid careless, but costly mistakes. But praise God, He forgives!
In His grip,
Pastor Decker

One More Prayer

As I was listening to some music and reflecting upon what to write this week, a song lyric caught my attention. This time it was the Casting Crowns song, I Know You’re There (from their CD, The Altar and the Door). Here’s the first verse:

If all I had was one last breath
I'd spend it just to sing Your praise
Just to say Your name
If all I had was one last prayer
I'd pray it 'cause I know You're always listening
If I could live a thousand lives, bind the hands of time
I would spend every moment by Your side

The phrase, “If all I had was one last prayer…” is what hit me the most. What if I only had one more prayer … what would I pray? A number of things come to my mind, but I’d like to turn the question over to you.

Suppose you knew that you had only one more opportunity to offer a prayer to God. What would that prayer be? Who would you pray for? Would it be a prayer of confession? How about a prayer of praise? Maybe the answer came to you instantly. Or, perhaps, it’s taking a while. Either way, I encourage you to spend some time considering the question. But, don’t stop there … pray that prayer … pour out your heart to God.

Let’s face it, we never really know when our last opportunity to pray might arrive. So, take advantage of every opportunity to pray … redeem the time (Eph. 5:16).

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

A Little More Gas

A mechanic, I am not. That’s why I am thankful every time my motorcycle runs for me. It’s an older trail bike that I bought on Ebay in 2008. For the most part, it’s run pretty well. But, on occasion, it gives me fits. I haven’t ridden it very much this summer, so that doesn’t help matters any.

The other night, I decided to start it up. After a few kicks, and fiddling with the choke, I got it going. I decided to take a risk and make one adjustment. There’s a little screw that adjusts how the bike idles. Adjust it one way, and it gets a little more gas. Adjust it the other way … and the opposite. Time will tell if this was a good thing or not, but the bike seemed to run better and have a little more power. A little more gas seemed to make the difference.

As with the motorcycle, I wonder how much difference “a little more gas” would make in our spiritual lives. Obviously, I’m not talking about gasoline here … I’m talking about spiritual disciplines. Sometimes things that just take a few minutes a day can make a world of difference; a few minutes in prayer, taking time to read a Bible passage and/or devotional, memorizing a Bible verse, singing a song of praise to God, or any number of things that draw you closer to God. Just a minute or two (or ten) per day can make a big difference in the way we look at the world around us or deal with the challenges we face.

This week, make a point of doing at least one thing to give your spiritual life “a little more gasoline.” As you read this, decide what you will do and make a commitment to do it. I think you will find it refreshing and energizing. Sometimes little adjustments can make a big difference.

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

When the Accuser Comes Knocking

Christians are constantly under the attack of Satan. I know, it’s not a very pleasant topic, but it’s absolutely true, and something we must be aware of. Peter made that quite clear in his first letter: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

Sometimes, his attacks are directly on us, trying to get us to succumb to temptation and fall. Other times, the attack is more indirect. In the Book of Revelation, John points out that Satan persistently attacks us before the Father;

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. (Revelation 12:10)

Thankfully, Satan isn’t the only one presenting a case before the Father. Jesus successfully combats the accusations of Satan by interceeding for us (Rom. 8:34). When Satan points out our sin, Jesus points out what He accomplished at the cross … our salvation and justification.

While these passages show this happening before the throne of God, I think Satan often uses the same tactic with us … he reminds us of the guilt of past sin and makes us feel defeated and hopeless. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again … Satan reminds us of who we’ve been and what we’ve done in the past … Jesus reminds us of who He’s making us to be! Satan tries to make us forget what Jesus accomplished at the cross … forgiveness and justification. We must never let Satan win.

Casting Crowns has a great song entitled East to West., which reminds us just how far our sin is removed from us (based on Psalm 103:12 et. al.). Today, I invite you to reflect on the chorus of that song:

Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west ~ ‘Cause I can’t bear to see the man I’ve been come rising up in me again ~ In the arms of Your mercy I find rest ~ ‘Cause You know just how far the east is from the west~ From one scarred hand to the other.

In His grip,
Pastor Decker