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Guard Your Heart - Mary, Mother of Jesus

Lord, let your Word be a light unto my path. 

Observe Our ability to embrace joy comes from within and not from our circumstances. 

Have you ever taken inventory of what’s at the heart of your emotions? God gave us our feelings to inform us of something deeper, something that has either settled in our hearts or is on its way there. He warns us to diligently watch over our hearts because the matters of our hearts significantly impact our everyday lives (Proverbs 4:23). Therefore, it’s important to regularly examine our hearts to discover negative emotions that have settled there. We must manage our emotions—before they manage us. 

When painful experiences occur, negative emotions arise. While it’s normal to be sad, angry, embarrassed, or ashamed for a time, God doesn’t want us to hold onto these feelings indefinitely. He wants us to process our pain and embrace healing, so our joy can be restored. 

When Mary brought her infant son Jesus into the Temple to be dedicated, Simeon embraced her baby, praised God for his glory, and warned Mary and Joseph that because of their son’s destiny, a sword would pierce their very soul (Luke 2:33–35). 

Mary experienced many painful life experiences, the most intense of which was witnessing her son being brutally beaten and crucified. But even as the sword pierced her heart, she remained patient and faithful and continued to trust God with every aspect of her life. 

Courageously guard your heart by implementing the following steps. 

1. Take inventory of any negative emotions you are experiencing. 

2. Ask God to help you identify the painful event that initiated each negative emotion. 

3. Pray for wisdom to work through your pain and heal your emotions. 

4. Ask a godly friend to hold you accountable as you process your feelings and pain. 

Interpret We all experience pain in our lives. God knows how we feel and will comfort us as we heal. 

Apply Are you sad, angry, jealous, bitter, or struggling with unforgiveness? Name one step you can take today to begin the process of healing your negative emotions. 

Father, you promise to never abandon us in our hour of need. Help me identify my heart issues and give me courage to take the necessary steps to heal my damaged emotions.