{"id":1726,"date":"2015-01-04T15:18:25","date_gmt":"2015-01-04T20:18:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/prayerplainandsimple\/?p=1726"},"modified":"2015-01-28T13:28:58","modified_gmt":"2015-01-28T18:28:58","slug":"the-state-of-the-heart-address","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/prayerplainandsimple\/2015\/01\/the-state-of-the-heart-address.html","title":{"rendered":"The State of the Heart Address"},"content":{"rendered":"

My child, pay attention to what I say.<\/em><\/strong>
\n Listen carefully to my words.<\/em><\/strong>
\nDon\u2019t lose sight of them.<\/em><\/strong>
\n Let them penetrate deep into your heart,<\/em><\/strong>
\nfor they bring life to those who find them,<\/em><\/strong>
\n and healing to their whole body.<\/em><\/strong>
\nGuard your heart above all else,<\/em><\/strong>
\n for it determines the course of your life.<\/em><\/strong>
\nAvoid all perverse talk;<\/em><\/strong>
\n stay away from corrupt speech. (Proverbs 4:20-24)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This month in our blog we will be focusing on communication in marriage and relationships. Three of the top stories in the news today have to do with domestic violence, each of which ended in unspeakable pain. How did the course of these relationships turn from destiny to disaster? Proverbs 4 sheds some light on an important issue: \u00a0the heart. The state of our hearts determines our destiny as well as the health of our relationships. Let us ask God for His guidance and His wisdom that\u00a0we may learn to communicate in godly ways.<\/p>\n

Our Father,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I open my ears to Your wisdom, to hear what you are saying and what you have said in your word pertaining to my heart and my destiny. You have instructed me to make it my highest priority to guard my heart. And in the context of Proverbs 4, I see that guarding my heart can begin with paying attention\u00a0to Your word and paying attention to my words.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Lord, I want to guard the heart of this relationship that you have given me. So I begin today with hearkening to your Word, to your wisdom. I make it my aim today to\u00a0pay attention to the words that come out of my mouth. I ask that they would be helpful for building up my partner, not in tearing down. May my words breathe life. May they bring encouragement and instill confidence and hope. I make it my priority, my highest aim, to listen to you, and I determine that\u00a0my words will stand in agreement with your words. In doing so, I will guard the heart of this relationship and the course of our destiny.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Are you stalled in your marriage?\u00a0Have you forgotten what attracted you to this relationship in the first place? Our\u00a0Marriage Intensive is designed to renew your vision and return you to joy in your purpose and life together:\u00a0<\/b>http:\/\/giantworldwide.com\/mjh-marriage-intensives<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don\u2019t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. 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