Guarding Your Heart Against Unwanted InvadersSample

U - Unburden your heart before Him

When Hannah’s heart was provoked and needed to be guarded against the angst caused by her rival Peninnah, she did what we, too, must do to guard our hearts. In prayer, she poured her anguish out to her God.

Oh, that we would put this pouring into practice when facing “Peninnah’s” of our own - our own unwanted invaders!

Psalm 62:8 specifically refers to the pouring out of one’s tears and complaints. How often do we find ourselves pouring out our tears and complaints to all BUT Him? The truth is, we may find that once we pour our heart out to Him, we don’t even need to pour it out to others.

Imagine what would happen if we first took all that caused our tears and complaints - all our heart’s “unwelcome invaders” and poured it out to the Lord. Another word for “pouring” is “spilling” or “spewing.” I can think of a number of times when I have either “spewed” my complaints onto someone else or been the recipient of someone else’s “spewing.” Imagine the pain, regret, and disappointment that would be spared if we first took those tears (and words) to Him!

Spurgeon described it as an “unloading” of our hearts at Jesus’ feet. What a mistake it is to “unload” my heart anywhere else until I have first unloaded it before Him. Who else knows my frame and weakness, as He does? (Psalm 103:14) Who else holds the words of eternal life, as He does? (John 6:68) Who else offers the compassion and mercies needed in times of my greatest sorrow, as He does? (2 Corinthians 1:3) Who else gently convicts and exposes my faults while restoring my soul, as He does? (Psalm 23:3) Who else, truly who else, should I lay my heart before, pouring out my soul, unloading my cares, spilling out my tears and complaints, and dealing with the unwanted invaders of my heart?

Jesus taught that out of the overflow of the mouth, the heart speaks. (Luke 6:45) Might we be able to gauge how much we pour out to Him (or don’t pour out to Him) by what we feel necessary to pour out to others?

“Ye people, pour out your heart before him. Ye to whom his love is revealed, reveal yourselves to him. His heart is set on you, lay bare your hearts to him.” (unknown)

In Psalm 55:22, we are told to cast our burdens on the Lord. Whether big or small, whatever may creep into our hearts that does not belong, remember: we are not only invited, we are commanded to give them to the Lord. In doing so, peace, His peace, can once again flood our hearts.

This peace given by God Himself will act as a guard upon our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7).