There is a lot of noise in the atmosphere right now.
Both in the natural and in the spiritual realms. And because of this, guarding your heart is more important than ever.
There's a lot of pressure to perform to the standards of family, friends, and media. Chaos in your physical environment creates chaos in your emotional, mental, and spiritual environments as well.
Proverbs 4:23 in the New Living Translation says, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."
God's command to us isn't just to impress us. No. He wants to make an impact. The beautiful thing about God's word, is its power. In fact, Luke 1:37 in the ASV states, "For no word from God shall be void of power."
When we are attempting to quiet our inner man; to silence our own internal voices of condemnation and fear and stress, it is the Word of God that brings the balance and harmony.
When I record audio for my YouTube channel or podcast, I have to be conscious of the noise around me. I have heaters heating, water running, birds singing, dogs barking, chairs squeaking - noises I'm accustomed to that can ruin the recording quality. That's where software comes in to dissipate and eliminate ambient noise. The technical term is setting the noise gate. And sometimes it requires additional resources and hardware.
Let God's word become the noise gate to filter through all the junk.
Allow it to bring out the beautiful resonance and harmony of the season. Instead of engaging with:
- Social media feeds filled with ads screaming, "BUY ME NOW!"
- Marketing announcements for 'last-minute' discounts planned 12 months ago.
- Pressure for this channel or that to watch your favorite holiday movies; what snacks to serve on Christmas Eve; or the latest trend in Elf on a Shelf,
Disconnect and sip some cider. Look out the window and marvel at the quiet of the trees. Remember, the message of the angel was PEACE ON EARTH.
Choose to radically eliminate the NOISE NOISE NOISE.
So today, my friend, I'm asking you to pull back and seek the peace of God. I think it's what we're all running after. Because after all, He shaped our hearts for Him. What we're missing isn't another pair of jeans or the most current hoodie fashion. It's His Presence. Not the presents.
I'm not about being a Scrooge. Have fun. Make merry. But do it with the awareness that all the noise is meant to distract you from the most important things.
It's about your family. And love. And rest. And joy.
What is "Guarding Your Heart?"
Literally, it means, "Protect your inner man, your mind and will and emotions like a prison guard; watch over the boundaries of your true self."
Don't let anything in there you don't want to influence how you show up in your day-to-day life.
Even as the noise gate on my audio software filters distracting static, you have control over your own noise gates.
Your eyes let in everything. And your mind doesn't know if it's real, or TV or a video game. If you are feeling stress and anxiety, let in some peaceful words and scenes.
The same with your ears. I find it helpful to turn on restful music. I'm a huge fan of Jacob Agendia and William Augusto. But it doesn't have to be Christian music. If it gets your heart racing and you're already stressed, choose music that slows down your heart and mind. Maybe a classical piece or your favorite country artist singing Christmas songs. Or even just the sound of a fireplace YouTube video on the TV screen.
Is there conflict and confusion in your workplace or family life? Those are a little trickier to moderate. However, if you seek wisdom and direction from the Holy Spirit, you can overcome them. One way I've found is to think about how you might respond to the typical challenges of those relationships. Consider how interactions have gone in the past. You know you've always thought about what you might have said instead, right? Do that in advance, aiming for words and actions to diffuse an already volatile environment.
In the workplace, asking how you can remove the emotion from the environment can help you feel more in control. For the family, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the core reason for the challenges. Is there something you can do to take the pressure off the other person/people? Is there a way you can distance yourself from a particularly challenging person?
'Tis the season. For clarity.
Refuse the chaos. Dial down the noise.
Establish a Peace Practice to carry along with you throughout the day. This can be a way to reconnect with the important things, instead of what Charles Hummels calls "the urgent things."
That can be a short breath prayer, a grounding scripture written on a piece of paper to keep in your pocket, or a decision to step away for a few moments of fresh air when the noise gets too loud.
Whatever you choose to do, remember you don't have to fall victim to the din of distraction. Set up your boundaries, and guard your precious, lovely heart. You are worth it. And peace is a prize worth claiming.
