Guards of My Heart and Mind

Yesterday morning I was reading my devotional and it was speaking of fear and worry trying to enter and gain a foothold in our minds.  The writer (Sarah Young) advised us to let  trust and thankfulness be the guards of our minds.

For our honeymoon, my husband and I went to Europe.  We were blessed to be able to go to St. Peters while we were there, and the picture that comes to mind is the Swiss guards that stand outside of the Vatican.  Brightly colored uniforms, disciplined and loyal to their sacred assignment.  And that is how trust and thankfulness are to stand guard affront my heart and mind.  Well trained.  Powerful. Stalwart.

Thinking upon this reading, I countered to the Lord, "I don't worry or fear very much."  And I felt Him raise up in me the thought....what about frustration, what about anger, what about stress? Should not your mind be guarded against those?  When frustration tries to alight in my mind, thankfulness should be at the door to stop it from gaining entry.  When anger over circumstances wants to gain access to my heart, trust needs to bar it's way in.

Lord, thank You for bringing this into focus for me.  Thank You for Your leading and teaching once again.  Help me to apply it to my day, to my life.  Help us all to allow trust and thankfulness be the guards of our hearts and minds.  In Jesus name, Amen.