"Time for an Oil Change?"

𝑀𝑜𝓃𝒹𝒶𝓎'𝓈 𝒫𝓇𝒶𝓎𝑒𝓇: 10/18/2021

𝒮𝒸𝓇𝒾𝓅𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒: Proverbs 4:23

𝒯𝑜𝓅𝒾𝒸: Routine Maintenance

𝒢𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝒜𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓃𝑜𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝒴𝑜𝓊,

Flashback Moment:

My very first car was an 1989 Chevrolet Corsica (no judgement)! And though it was old (even for the 90's), I couldn't have been more proud that it was my own. As happy as I was to have my first vehicle, I also had to be mindful of the routine vehicle maintenance.

The regular maintenance of any vehicle hits different when YOU are the one overseeing it! I remember my Father Joe teaching basics such as changing my own oil, brake pads removal and changing a flat tire!

I asked my Father, why is it necessary to keep the oil changed, and to check my tires, or even knowing how to change my brake pads? Daddy said, "Because if you want to keep your vehicle running (efficiently), all of these things contribute to safety on the Highway, a healthy engine, peak performance, and it saves you money in the long run."

Now in 2021, do I do any of these things myself? Absolutely not! But the knowledge I have of routine maintenance is irreplaceable.

Can you guess what else needs regular and routine maintenance? Yep! Our Hearts. ♥️

The New International Version (NIV) of Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else guard your heart; for everything you do flows from it." Just as the oil controls and determines the health of a car's engine, our Heart is the central focus of our spiritual being. God takes special notice of our heart posture and where it stands.

Our hearts need maintenance, care and support. In a natural sense, we have lights to come on as a reminder that something needs to be checked. Spiritually, our heart speaks to us. Before making decisions or acting on temptation, we all have to decide what's morally right and wrong.

The Bible says in Matthew 12:34, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." And in Proverbs 23:7 the scripture reads, "As a man thinketh so is he." Ouch.

The focus Bible verse of this entry, is telling us, we are as pure as our core. Our heart. And someone might be thinking, well how do I know my heart is "up to speed" and where it needs to be? I'm glad you asked!!

Solomon answers this question in Proverbs 4:24-27. He basically is telling us:

1. Remove a deceitful mouth far away from you.

2. Stay focused! Eliminate distractions.

3. Allow God to order your footsteps at all times.

4. Remove yourself away from evil.

Pray this prayer:

Father in the name of Jesus. I want to be SURE that my heart check-up is exactly where it needs to be. Father we positively and absolutely cannot do this without You. Father strengthen us so that we remove all deceitfulness away from us. Father God help us to keep our eyes focused on the goal of Jesus Christ. Father God order and direct our footsteps as Your Word says in Psalm 119:133, "Order my steps in Your Word and let no sin rule over me." Father God we remove ourselves from evil in the name of Jesus Christ. Father God no one knows the day or hour of the return of Jesus and so we must stand prepared. Father God help us to walk a straight path to keep our hearts healthy and our spiritual gas tanks full of Your Holy Spirit. We love You Father and we pray this prayer with all sincerity of our hearts. Father we want to live and lead better lives each and every day where breath is still in our bodies and our blood runs warm in our veins.

It's in Jesus name we pray, Amen.

𝐿𝑜𝓋𝑒,

𝐿𝒶𝒹𝓎 𝑀𝑜𝓃𝒾𝒸𝒶