I’m being direct in this post because I was reminded yesterday that life is but a vapor and we will all wither away one day. I’m also using several verses today because there is power in God’s Word, it doesn’t go out void and it holds the wisdom we need. Proverbs 4:5 reads, “Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.” Proverbs 4:13 encourages us to “Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.”

Therefore, Guard your soul. It is the only thing that goes with you when you die. Ask Jesus into your life if you haven’t yet. If you have asked him into your life and are not following His leadership right now then stop wasting time living for yourself and start living for Him. I Peter 1:24-25 “For, All men are like grass and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.”

Once you accept Jesus into your life as your Lord and Savior you are sealed with the Holy Spirit. Therefore live by the Spirit and guard your mind. The devil wants to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10a) and yet once you know Jesus you are sealed, saved for the day of redemption by His Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 4:20) “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4: 22-24)  Our minds are the devil’s play ground. Guard your mind. What you feed it changes your actions. Philippians 4:4-8 teaches us to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything but in everything; by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think on these things.”

Guard your heart, “Above all else, guard your heart for it is the well spring of life.” Proverbs 4:23. The well spring of life is where the outflow of our lives comes. Jesus said, “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean’.” Mark 7:20-23

Finally, guard your mouth. Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Yesterday, as I received chemo the lady seated closest to me was using language that I didn’t care to hear. I apologized to Erin, the friend who had brought me, because I thought it might be offending her as well. She said, “I’m blocking it out” and then she said, “she may not know Jesus but she just found out that her chemo is not working anymore and she is going to die sooner than she wanted.” I had been out of the room as all this came to light. I prayed that the Lord would save her and help her have the right amount of time with her daughter. I prayed that he would guard my mouth and that I would not displease him with the words I said for the rest of the day.

Life is but a vapor and yet the Lord wants us to have abundant life. (John 10:10b) So be on guard. “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” I Corinthians 15:58. Be abundantly His!