Is everything ok?

Ralph Waldo Emerson said - It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.

In the private places of your soul, can you say today that everything is all right?

This thought might not resonate with those who are flying high as much as with those whose tomorrow seems uncertain. The pressure, the doubt, the questions pile up until (it seems) everything is falling apart. Then out the door goes our genuine belief and confidence we had that all was going to be ok.

(Butterflies - Forest Hill, MD)

What do we do? Where do we go? Where do we turn to get our answers and the confidence to continue this journey?

The answer lies in whether or not something has been stored up inside of you when there were better days. We must guard that inner ‘place’ so that energy, insight, and wisdom can keep us from succumbing to the outer trials and storms we face. 

Proverbs 4:23 warns us to, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

Plainly speaking, our hearts must be protected from outside influences that would cause us to jeopardize our own integrity. On the inside of each one of us, there must be a quiet place where all is in order…a place where energy flows that pushes us through storms and is in no way intimidated by them.

I marvel while watching some individuals face a crisis. Unless they talk with you about it, you would never know they’re in a storm. How do they do it with such calm? They go through it because inside of themselves, they were prepared before the storm ever arose. 

It requires taking a little time everyday to check in on the state of order in your heart.

(Rainy Day - Forest Hill, MD)

What is your mouth saying today?

What are your eyes looking at?
Where are your feet leading you?
What are your ears listening to?

What are you feeding your soul?

These things just might be a good indicator of what the state of your heart is like. If we don’t protect it, storing up in our secret places the calming presence of God…when the storm does arrive, direction will be lost. As uncomfortable as it might be, dig in and check on your heart today. You won’t regret it. 

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