Lock and Key 🔐

 So I've been struggling to write this for about two weeks now which is new for me! Normally my posts are random but I just speak from my heart and it just flows so spending this much time on one post baffled me. I changed the topic like 3 times, I asked God what can I talk about that I haven't and I realized that I haven't really went into the depths and importance of guarding your heart. 

 I've talked about soul ties, friendships and life in general but let's really get into Proverbs 4:23 KJV

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

Guarding our hearts is a daily task that we need to practice and that ranges from the friends you keep, the music or TV shows that you let influence you or advice given. I'm very selective about what I give my attention to and this wasn't always the case so I'm not "sending or coming" for people because I struggled greatly with these things. I'm a TV person, I'm a music fanatic and I'm very fascinated by Pop culture so it was very hard for me to not be in the know or be unfamiliar with what people were listening to or watching. 

 I went on a TV fast last summer for about 21 days which changed my whole view of a lot of the stuff I was watching. I realized that my purity, mentally and emotionally was being tainted and if I didn't check it then that could lead to me falling physically. I tried watching and listening to somethings that didn't use to bother me and I felt sick!! My spirit became very sensitive to God's voice during that break so I began spending more time in his word and less time justifying why it's ok to warch this or that. I've found that we are quick to defend ourselves when we feel convicted. We know in our heart that our actions don't line up with the Father's instructions but we ignore that "tug."

TV, movies and music weren't my only issue though. My issue was also listening to the opinion of others on what I watch and listen to. I started isolating myself so that I could hear God speak because if you don't get quiet before him you'll be one confused and stressed out person! You'll listen to everyone around you tell you it's not that "deep" or it doesn't take all that and next thing you know you're spiraling out of control. We need boundaries and structure or life will become a messy free for all mentally and spiritually. I'm an all or nothing type of person so I have to be really careful about what I feed my spirit. There's no middle ground with me in life overall. When it comes to my emotions I'm extreme in the natural. I'm either really up or really down so even though I'm a new creature in Christ I still have somethings that he and I are working on. I choose to completely guard my heart which means I don't take advice from anyone who's yet to find their life which is basically all of y'all. I'm learning to pray before spilling my tea to anyone and I'm very leery of those who just freely give advice but their own life is in shambles. People are so quick to tell you about yourself don't really know you. That'd be like me giving marriage advice when I've never been married. I know what I want in a marriage, I know what I need but I haven't experienced it so I can't advise. I can talk to you all day about singlehood, keeping yourself, being content and while all day! That just so happens to be up my alley but I don't go around just giving unwarranted advice. 

 Guard your heart! Guard the living daylights out of it because if you're not cautious any everybody will be able to speak into your life. You'll become unstable and succeptible to just go with the flow of things be it good or bad. You want to know what to do about the next step in life? Lay on your face. You want to know how to maintain and start up Godly friendships? Lay on your face. You want to be married, boo'd up? Lay on your face. In everything make your request known unto God! Scripture tells us that in 

 Philippians 4:6-7 KJV

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  I'm learning to place my heart under lock and key before I just take advice from any and everybody. Place your heart under lock and key then hand the key to Jesus. ❤️