Build the best firewall you can for life. Knowing what is important and necessary in our everyday living is important. Protecting your heart and mind is a firewall you do not want to neglect. Be prepared and ready to address the issues in life that steal our joy and cause us to fall into sin.
When you buy a new computer the first thing we often put on is a firewall. We don’t want all the money and time invested in this new, important program that holds all of our information lost or damaged. Protection is a must. Yet we often forget that our minds and hearts also need to be protected.
We often stumble through life without really giving any thought about how to protect who we are and what we want to be known as. The value of your family and yourself is so much more than a computer. Even one that has all of your pertinent information on it. So, why shouldn’t we invest a little time, thought, and effort in protecting our hearts and minds?
Building a firewall is about protecting you
Life throws all kinds of curve balls. Sometimes we can hit them out of the park. Most of the time we just ignore the little fires of life or just handle them poorly after the fact. What if we were prepared to handle life’s difficult moments before they happen?
Remember when you were little and there came a challenge from another strong and bold person? Little people can be bolder than adults. They know, beyond a shadow of doubt what they want. You know this person. They drew a line in the sand and said, “Do not cross that line.”
That is what I am talking about. There comes a point in life where we all must draw a line in the sand and decide. We must say, “Do not cross this line.” Now if you wait till the moment comes to draw the line, well, that is setting ourselves up for failure. This is where we must take the time to think and prepare for future areas of difficulty.
The heart and mind control our actions as well as our inner thoughts. Past experiences can cause us to have faulty thinking that results in actions we will be disappointed in later.
What are your non-negotiables in life
Building a strong firewall for your life will involve some serious thought. You will need to decide very early what your non-negotiables are. For example, my marriage is an area I have non-negotiables.
The day I got married I drew a line that said, “I will not allow anything or anyone to come between me and my husband.” That is a non-negotiable.
Some of the things that maybe non-negotiable for you might be,
- Debt
- Sleepovers for your kids
- When your teenager will date
- How you will spend your summer vacation
- What kind of organizations you will belong to
- What kind of social events you will participate in
- Work with children/stay at home
- My marriage
a different kind of firewall
Not only are the non-negotiables something to think about, but so are all kinds of moral and ethical situations. Being prepared is what having a firewall for life is all about.
We need protection. Not just physical protection but our heart and mind as well.
Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. Proverbs 4:23
King Solomon
Start with the heart
Solomon knew our hearts are fragile and easily persuaded. Look at how often we say we “love” something. I can make a long list of things that I love. None of them bad, but all of them could be awful if I am not watching the condition of my heart.
We an be so easily drawn to the wrong things. Like a kind comment made at the work coffee pot. the comment can be lingering words in our minds and heart. Or the offer of extra shifts to bring home more money, when home is calling us.
Such simple acts can become a problem for our heart.
Our Hearts Need a firewall
You may have never thought about our heart needing a firewall of protection around it. King Solomon was the wisest king that ever lived. His wisdom was given to him by God. So, if he offers some advice about the heart and protecting we should probably listen.
Can I give you an example of how easily our hearts stray from what is essential in our life? I work pretty long hours and days. So when I have a day off the first thing I do is start dreaming about how I am going to spend it. Those dreams involve a lot of different things. I might even write them down in a list of importance to me.
Now there is nothing wrong with productivity and getting things done. Even some self indulgent things that involve self care are necessary at times. Let me just tell you how quickly it turns to sin.
When I start to dream about my day off and all the things I plan on doing I get excited. Then someone comes along and says, ” Do you mind working for me on Saturday? My mother needs me to take her to Florida for a funeral.” Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with saying yes or no to this request, but when my yes turns into an angry yes, well, that is different.
How do we build The best firewall
Build the best firewall by writing down your priorites.
The best way I know of protecting and building a firewall for life is by being prepared. Like I mentioned earlier, what are your priorities and non-negotiables. Take some time out of your day and contemplate the priorities you have in life.
Write The Down
The earlier you do this the better for you. Writing things down makes them real and gives foundation to your most precious part of life, your heart. Draw a line int he sand so to speak and deliberately determine what will not be negotiable.
So the next time a compliment is given at the coffee pot by a nice looking fellow, you can say ‘thank you’ and walk away. There is not lingering thought about that compliment, it’s just a compliment and you can determine to not go back there looking for another one. Not there or at a coffee shop, lunch, or anywhere else.
Setting your mind on protecting your heart will give you courage to do just that
To build the best firewall for your heart you must predetermine areas that can be problematic. After you have written the areas you feel need protection then you must formulate a game plan.
My marriage is a priority therefore I will protect it. The heart can be the problem therefore I must formulate a plan before I need it.
Our hearts can long for things that are not of God, things that are not what God wants. The best way to know what God wants is in His word. That is why it is so important to be in the Word, reading it, and learning from it. Scripture tells us the truths that God wants us to live by.
Develope a loose plan
This is not about a legalistic way of living. It’s about being prepared. The day will come when you will be tempted by something that is not the best God has in store for you. People that go into debt over boats, cars or just stuff didn’t get there over night.
They may have gotten there slowly because a plan was not implemented. The best that God has in store for you was not thought about or read about.
God has a purpose and plan for your life. He also desires for you to live abundantly and He says so in John 10:10. The dreams that He placed in your heart need to be protected by Him and His word.
Think ahead about how you will handle situations. If guarding your childrens heart is a priority then be ready to address that in a kind way when someone wants your children to stay at their house overnight. You want to be ready for the moments that can take you down the wrong path.
Pray
Prayer can lead us to a place of knowing what God wants for our lives. When you are in a good relationship with God you will know what He wants. Planning ahead and asking God to help in protecting your heart is also a big part of building the best firewall.
Praying helps to keep us focused on the most important thing, Jesus. God also expects us to ask Him for help.
How I love you, Lord! You are my defender. 2 The Lord is my protector; he is my strong fortress. My God is my protection, and with him I am safe. He protects me like a shield; he defends me and keeps me safe. 3 I call to the Lord, and he saves me from my enemies. Praise the Lord!
King David
God wants to be our defender our protector. He wants to help you build the best firewall possible around your family, your life, and your heart.
Read
So, your not sure what God expects from you. Read His word. The answers for all of our problems are there. He wants to be your defender, wouldn’t you like to know Him a little better if He is so willing to protect you?
Life is not simple but God’s solutions are. We can be prepared for the tough situations in life by reading and listening to His word.
Satan came to steal
Being prepared and knowing that Satan came to steal and destroy your life should make all of us want to be prepared to protect our hearts. Also knowing that God wants to be our defender should give us even more courage to be prepared and build the best firewall we can. A firewall that protects our marriage, our personal hearts, and our children’s heart.
- Write our your non-negotiables
- Read God’s word
- Pray for Protection
- Pray for Direction
You Can build a firewall
We have life insurance, computer firewalls and many other things we purchase to protect our lives, why not our hearts as well. Take the time to decide what your priorities are, make sure they line up with scripture and build the best firewall you can around your heart and life.
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