Now that we understand the importance of being in covenant with God and loving Him with our whole heart, we must take the next important step: regularly examining our hearts and guarding our lives from distractions that can draw us away from Him. The Bible teaches that we are to be vigilant in guarding our hearts and ensuring that nothing takes the place of God in our lives. This requires an ongoing process of self-examination, purification, and realignment with God’s will.
In Exodus 12:15, God commands the Israelites to remove leaven from their homes during the Passover. This act was a symbolic gesture of purifying their homes from corruption. Leaven represented sin, and removing it was an act of consecration to God. In the same way, we are called to regularly examine our lives and remove anything that has taken God’s place. This could be a sin we’ve allowed to fester, an unhealthy habit, or even a good thing that has become an idol in our hearts.
In today’s world, distractions are abundant. It’s easy to become sidetracked by the demands of work, relationships, and the pursuit of personal goals. These things are not inherently bad, but when they begin to take priority over our relationship with God, they can become idols. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus reminds us that we cannot serve two masters: “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and money.” Our hearts can easily be divided, but when our love for God becomes secondary to other pursuits, we lose the peace and fulfillment He offers.
To guard our hearts, we need to regularly perform “spiritual checkups.” Just as we schedule annual physicals to assess our physical health, we should also set aside time for spiritual reflection. Are there areas in our lives where we have allowed distractions to take root? Are there idols we’ve allowed to subtly take God’s place? These are difficult questions, but they are necessary for maintaining a pure heart that is fully devoted to God.
Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” Our relationship with God is rooted in faith, and faith requires that we constantly seek Him above all else. When we place our trust in Him and guard our hearts from distractions, we position ourselves to experience the fullness of His love and the blessings of living in covenant with Him.
Reflective Questions:
- What “other gods” might be competing for your heart? How can you begin to remove them from your life?
- How often do you take time for a “spiritual checkup” to ensure your priorities are aligned with God’s will? What does that look like for you?
- When you face distractions or temptations, what practical steps can you take to refocus your heart on God and keep Him as your first priority?
