Written by REVELATIONS FOR TODAY by Pastor Michael Obata
Proverbs 4:23 – New Living Translation (NLT)
23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
People are more than physical beings. The Bible teaches us more about the nature of humanity. The Bible tells us that we are spirit, soul, and body. Genesis 1:26-27 speaks of the creation of the spirit of man. Genesis 2:7 states, “And the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” This verse highlights how God created the physical body from the dust of the ground and the soul by breathing life into man’s nostrils. Humans can be categorised as having an inner man (spirit and soul) and an outer man (physical body) as referenced in 2 Corinthians 4:16. As Christians, we must understand our nature and how God designed us to operate in these three forms.
The scriptures reveal that the spiritual realm controls the physical realm. God is spirit and relates to us through our spirit. Our physical body serves as a means to interact with the physical world. Blessed be God, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 1:3). In Christ Jesus, we are not only created in God’s image but born of the Spirit of God and, therefore, sons of God (John 1:12 and 1 Corinthians 6:17). Our true self is our spirit. As Christians, we are now one with the Spirit of God. Our soul, which contains the mind, acts as the gateway to our spirit and a medium through which our spirit interacts with the physical world. The mind is a means to absorb, utilise, and express the blessings and glory that our Heavenly Father has given us in Christ Jesus here on earth.
Why then do some Christians not experience these blessings in the physical world? Why do some Christians still struggle and face overwhelming challenges? The scriptures explain that it is due to a lack of knowledge of the Word of God (Hosea 4:6), which provides the information needed to transform their mindset. Romans 12:2 urges us not to conform to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we may discern God’s will for our lives. God’s will for you is to have a prosperous and righteous life filled with good success (Jeremiah 29:11).
The theme verse emphasizes guarding our spirit by filtering the information we allow into it. As spiritual beings, what we deposit in our spirit manifests in our physical life. Positive information from our minds deposited in our spirit will produce positive outcomes in our world, and vice versa. The heart mentioned in the theme scripture refers to the spirit of a person. Previous verses highlight the importance of the Word of God, which is the truth we must believe and meditate on. Verses 21 and 22 explain that the Word of God should be our focus and meditation, for therein lies grace and peace multiplied in our lives (2 Peter 1:4). The heart in verse 22 refers to the mind (soul). It is also essential to mention that the words we speak reflect what is deposited in our spirit through our minds. The mouth and the mind are gifts from God to direct the course of our lives according to His will and purpose. Physical obedience to God’s instructions brings the manifestation of spiritual blessings. Praise God!
Scripture meditation
Psalms 1; Acts 20:32; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; Joshua 1:8 & Philippians 4:6-8.
Prayer
Glorious Father, thank You for begetting me in Christ Jesus. Father, make my spirit, soul, and body respond only to Your Word and Spirit. I receive the grace to prove Your good, acceptable, and perfect will always. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Confession
The Word of God is my guard, and I shall prosper and have good success!