Only TAKE HEED to thyself and keep thy SOUL diligently...

" For what nation is there so great, who hath GOD so nigh unto them, as the LORD our GOD is in ALL THINGS that we call upon him for? "

 Deuteronomy 4:7

Have you ever looked at a spider and its web? Have you seen the spider at work... diligently working the web ever so meticulously? Have you seen how the spider reacts when something foreign invades his "home"?

Recently while sitting near a large window I noticed the spider at work. A leaf fell in his web. Within seconds the spider appears to remove all form of "foreign invasion". Patiently he begins the removal of the foreign object that has attached itself in his web. The object is much bigger than he... 

But it's obvious to anyone watching the spider at work that it is of utmost importance for the spider to have the object removed. 

He diligently and patiently works. His web needs to be free of any danger to his "home". 

And what I noticed most is that within seconds the spider came to remove the foreign object... the leaf. 

I thought of our own lives. Our hearts... 

Are we like the spider that quickly removes all "foreign dangers" that can mar our hearts? Do we diligently keep our hearts free from any form of danger that can infiltrate our souls and make us useless for the kingdom of GOD... and hinders us to grow?

Do we quickly put aside all form of  "dangers"... before they can debilitate us? 

Dangers can come in all forms... bitterness, jealousy, slander, pride, malice, hypocrisy.  

" Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, 

And hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings..."

1 Peter 2:1

But it can also be what we put in our hearts... through what we see/read/hear. Dangers from wrong books, movies, music.etc...

"Be sober, be vigilant;

 Because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, 

Walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 

1 Peter 5:8

Our God has instructed us, through HIS righteous WORD... to guard our hearts. Diligently.

" Keep thy heart with all diligence, 

For out of it are the issues of life."

Proverbs 4:23

We are always to be on the alert.  And we have a GREAT GOD who is near us when we call. 

What an awesome privilege to have the GOD of heaven act on our behalf.... even when dangers come our way.

" When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, 

Even in the latter days, 

If thou turn to the LORD thy GOD, 

And shalt be obedient unto HIS voice; 

For the LORD thy GOD is a MERCIFUL God; 

HE will not forsake thee... " 

Deuteronomy 4:30,31

And so I was grateful for the little glimpse in the world of the spider... a different outlook than I would otherwise see.  

Marvelous are God's reminders...

May you be reminded today to guard your heart from evil.... and may you have victory through HIS power that can set us free.

~Ellie