The Heart

Every Friday afternoon during football season, I have the opportunity to share some encouragement with the Fort Chiswell football players after they are fed by several of the ladies in our church.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have talked to these young men about 1) Their Will & 2) Their Mind. Today, I'm going to share with them about the heart. This is my attempt to share something with them that can apply to life & football.

Proverbs 4:23 says, "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life."

As I came across this verse, I was reminded of Captain America. Many of you have seen the movie. Others may have read the comics. But one of my favorite scenes is when the Doctor is talking to Steve about the procedure that he is going to having in the morning. The serum that he will be injected with is going to bring incredible enhancements to his physical body. However, one of the interesting aspects of the serum is that is basically personifies what is inside a person. Whatever is true on the inside of the individual will come to the surface for the whole world to see.

Is it any wonder Solomon in all his wisdom told his son to watch over his heart? We all face certain things in life that will test the metal of what is inside of us. Moments where the spotlight will shine brightly upon our character. It's in those moments that skill, talent, & gifts can be used as a tool to build you up, or they can be the very thing that destroys our lives.

I once heard someone say that when you look at many of the people in the Bible, that it wasn't their areas of weakness where they struggled but in the areas of the strengths. Think about it, David was called a man after God's own heart. Yet we all know that there came a time when David's heart failed him. Rather than guard (or watch over) his heart, he allowed it to be filled with desires that were not of God.

There are many things that we have to guard against:
Pride
Arrogance
Over Confidence
Lustful Desires
Insecurities
Etc.
When we are tested, whatever we have allowed in will come out.

It is my desire that when I'm finished with these young men, that they will leave more than a legacy of great football. We are in the business of raising up the next generation of men. Men who will lead families. Men who will take over places of leadership in the workplace, government, or the church. Hopefully, what we have sowed into them will take root and that will be what comes out of their lives.

Have a great weekend!!!