Put Up Guardrails Around Your Life

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” (Proverbs 25:28)
        “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
      Passage: Psalm 119:1-11

       From the earliest times in history when people began to build cities, they built walls around their cities. While the walls often served more than one function, the primary function of the wall was fortification and protection against an attack from an outside enemy. When a person lacks self-control, Solomon points out that he is like a city left without walls. Satan knows how to exploit our sin nature with temptation and trials. The Apostle Paul tell us to “give no opportunity to the devil?” (Ephesians 4:27) That requires self-control, and one key need to exercise self-control is for you to put up guardrails, or walls of protection around your life and especially your heart.
       One guardrail is the memorization of God’s Word. Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Another guardrail is being conscious that God sees everything, and we reap what we sow. (see Galatians 6:7-8) A third guardrail is having godly friends who can encourage and challenge you. (see Proverbs 27:17) A fourth guardrail is developing some steps you can take to avoid some temptations as best you can. Good walls give good protection.     

Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)