Devotions by Christine Caine

Read Philippians 3:12–14

The apostle Paul urges us to follow his example as he presses forward toward his goal and allows nothing to block his spiritual progress.

Blocking Our Hearts

If we are to guard our hearts against potential spiritual blockages, it is important to know what those blockages are.

1. Boredom. We must remain bold and adventurous on the faith journey if we want to keep our relationship with God fresh and dynamic. We must never think that we have arrived, for the moment that we do this, we become stagnant and complacent. Instead, we must always fervently seek after the heart of God.
2. Familiarity. To keep our hearts alive and vibrant, we need to maintain an attitude of gratitude and thanksgiving for who God is and all that he has done and continues to do. When we remind ourselves of the fact that we owe him everything, including our very being, we live in awe of him and never run the risk of taking him for granted.
3. Lust. We must fix our eyes on Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith. Our hearts must be set on him and his plan and purpose for our lives. No other person or thing can satisfy us in the same way. God himself must always be the object of our affection.
4. Laziness. We must continue to be about our Father’s business, engaging our lives in the cause of Christ. God has a plan for each one of us, and we must do our part to see that his plan is realized. When our hearts are full of zeal for the Lord, even the most mundane good tasks are deeply fulfilling.
5. Disobedience. It is crucial that we understand the importance of our obedience even in seemingly insignificant and small things, because every decision we make matters to God. Every single day, we take steps toward fulfilling our spiritual destinies simply by choosing to hear and obey the voice of God and his Word.

A strong, blockage-free heart is essential if we seek to love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds. But we can only have a healthy spiritual heart if we make a commitment to constantly guard and strengthen this spiritual core muscle. Recognizing and removing blockages from our heart can sometimes be difficult and painful, but it is something we must do if we truly desire to experience the abundant life that Jesus came to Earth to give us.

Point to Ponder

Guarding your heart is an on-going exercise of time and commitment. Are you ready to do those things that ensure a healthy spiritual heart that continues to love God completely and your neighbor as yourself?