Trust Him

Proverbs 30:5- Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him

I know Gods Word is pure for I read in the Psalms these words

 Psalms 12:6- The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times

Psalms 119:140- Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it

But I never noticed the next word after "pure" the personal pronoun "he." That word tells me that the Word of God is more than words printed on the pages of my Bible

John 1:1- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God

John 1:13- Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God

A shield is used for protection but that shield becomes useless if it is never trusted. What would you think of a warrior fighting in a battle for his life yet his shield is not in the battle with him? He left his shield back at camp or at home; would you think he had trust in his shield? I think not. As the arrows and spears came his way he would have no protection from them, his chances of being wounded in the battle just increased and also did his chances of death on the battle field. What was the problem? It was a trust problem, the solider didn't trust in his shield.

The very first time I read the word "shield"  in my Bible it is in reference to God

Genesis 15:1- After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram:I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward

Also the second time

Deuteronomy 33:29- Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency

and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places

Not only is the Word of God my Protection it's also become my reward and it also brings happiness into my life.

Great is The Lord my shield and greatly to be praised. Seems like I've heard that before

Psalms 48:1- Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness

As I leave to go into the battle field this morning I must ask myself who and what have I placed my in trust in?

But God

Proverbs 21:12- The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

RIGHTEOUS: Just; accordant to the divine law.

WISELY: Deep understanding, keen discernment, and a capacity for sound judgment

CONSIDER: To view or examine with attention.

WICKED: Evil in principle or practice; deviating from the divine law; addicted to vice; sinful; immoral.

OVERTHROW: To turn upside down. To ruin; to demolish. To defeat; to conquer; The state of being overturned.

The just man with deep understanding examines with attention toward evil principle, practice and addicted behavior. It all may look pleasing, acceptable even our society may accept wrong actions and immoral deeds. BUT (except for the fact) God will bring to ruin those who practice such sinful and immoral acts and behavior.

When we realize that no matter what a society may approves and makes a people feel good about their sinful actions, it's God who has written the rule book. Change the laws of the land, make immoral ways acceptable none of that matters for it is God that bring those who feel good about their sinful and immoral actions to ruin.

We must never forget "BUT GOD!"

Real Value

Notice what we are being taught here; three times the word heart is mentioned in this chapter

I. A Heart That Retains

Proverbs 4:4- He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

The teaching of the Father is not to be taken lightly. What He teaches is to retained

RETAIN: To hold or keep in possession; not to lose or part with or dismiss.

This retaining is to be with purpose I am to hold, keep in possession God's Word along with His commands so that I will know how to live

II. A Heart That Keeps

Proverbs 4:21- Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

MIDST: in the middle.

Do not lose sight of these things. Keep them deep within your heart. When something is in the middle it's there for protection. Do I value God's teaching, His Word, His Commandments? If so then I have them in the middle of my heart in other word I have put much value on them. I, to many times confuse value. What is "value?"  Value is not always gold, precious stone, silver but value is anything I place great worth in. What I value may be to some one else worthless. When thieves break into a secure place they take that which has earthly value, something they can sell and get cash for. They will not take that picture drawn by a child when they were in the first grade. But to the parent of that child that picture has great value it's priceless. Value of God's Word, God's Commandments are places into my heart as I look into the middle of my heart what values have I placed there for safe keeping

III. A Heart That's Diligent

Proverbs 4:23- Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life

 DILIGENCE: without unnecessary delay.

Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it. Our enemy wants to destroy me. He, want's what is dear to me, what's in my heart, what I'm retaining, what I place real value on. If he can accomplish keeping me away from God Word, wreck my time of prayer, destroy my relationships he will destroy my hearts values therefore destroying me

     1- But David says our ways can be clean:

Psalms 119:9- Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word

     2- We can have protection from wandering:

Psalms 119:10- With my whole heart have I sought thee

O let me not wander from thy commandments.

     3- Know the Plan:

Psalms 119:11- Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee

There it is Hid God's Word in The Middle of My Heart! If The Word of God is not Valuable to me then I want take the time to keep it safe within me.