Daily Devotion: Guard Your Heart

Scripture:
1 John 2: 15-17

Main Verse:
1 John 2: 17
The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Observation:
The apostle John stated three things that are not from the Lord. The lust of the flesh is an evil desire for sexual immorality. The lust of the eyes is covetousness or a strong desire for riches. The pride of life is the stubbornness of the heart to admit that you have been wrong, or the thirst for vanity and honor. These are things that will keep us away from God, and we are admonished to avoid loving what is in the world because these will draw our hearts away from the Lord. John admonishes us--the ones that are called to live a life of righteousness--to avoid the traps of this world.

Application:
Many men and women of God in the past and in this present world have fallen because they got trapped by the things of this world. If we are not careful, we will love the world more instead of God. If we do not constantly guard our hearts and desire to be in the presence of the Lord through prayer, we cannot escape this world. We need to always remember that this world cannot offer us eternal life. They will all pass away and only those who desire to do the will of the Lord will stay.

Prayer:
Father, I am guilty of having a covetous heart. Forgive me, Lord, for my failures and shortcomings. Thank you for letting me realize that the things of this world is not from you. Thank you for reminding me to stay away from lust, greed, and pride. Help me become better everyday through your Word. This I pray in Jesus's name. AMEN.