Women’s Devotion: Refocus Our Gaze, Recenter Our Hearts

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23

Over the past several months, my news consumption has become… impulsive. Each week I’m reminded of this when I get a notification on my phone that my screen time has increased. I wish I could blame my Bible app, but a quick check of my settings shows that the news is occupying more battery power. Truth is not always kind.

I call out this unhealthy habit to bring it to the light, yet I don’t think I’m alone in this struggle.

We of course know the importance of keeping ourselves informed, but this manifests into a problem when our hearts and minds constantly dwell on the anxieties of the world, and we lose sight of God.

Aware that I need to refocus my gaze, I was reminded of this familiar verse in Proverbs. Proverbs 4:23 says, “above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

We “guard” a lot of things in our lives. Surveillance cameras, locks, dogs, fences, alarm systems, safe deposit boxes, security questions, and complicated passwords are all tools to guard our possessions, our money, our accounts, and even our identity. Yet, how are we guarding our hearts? ABOVE ALL ELSE the Bible says, guard your heart.

Jesus showed us how to protect our hearts. We can choose to guard our hearts by spending time with the Father as he did (Mark 1:35). When we feed our hearts with the things of God – when we renew our minds with scripture, expose ourselves to stories of faithfulness, and come to know God’s goodness – then we will see the truly good things that are happening even through chaotic times. There is no substitute to easing our worries than spending time with Him who is our creator.

Lord, through this time of uncertainty, teach us to be your faithful people. As we search for meaning, give us the strength to guard our hearts and seek refuge in you. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Written by Kim Afrank

This month’s devotion was written by Kim Afrank, a member of our Women’s MInistry Team. Kim and her husband Preston Afrank have been members of Sheridan Lutheran Church since January of 2011. Kim is the Director of Career Development at Nebraska Wesleyan University and enjoys supporting students as they develop their career plans. Preston works at Haberfeld Associates in Lincoln. Kim serves on Women’s Ministry Team and Preston serves on Sheridan’s Church Council.