"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways."
Proverbs 23:26
The idea of giving another our hearts is often a symbol of romantic love, and here it is used to protect us from sexual misconduct. The idea of giving our hearts to God instead, and setting our eyes upon God's example rather than someone we are physically attracted to is both a redirection of our sometimes wandering eyes, and a focus for our often-inconstant hearts. At first, it seems wildly inappropriate to redirect those kinds of thought and feelings to God, but perhaps that is part of the point... something that can wake us up to the fact that those kinds of thoughts and feelings need to be controlled and directed appropriately, according to God's law, and not just the whims of desire.
Today, whatever our temptations or desires, let's think on this advice, and work to apply it in our lives. Let's redirect our lust or greed or whatever else to the Lord. Let's use the time and the energy that we normally spend wanting something we can't have to wanting what God has to offer us. Let's give our hearts to something worthwhile, and to someone they can safely trust in. Let's put God first, and emulate his example, and turn our weaknesses and our failings into dedication and strength, through him.
Proverbs 23:26
The idea of giving another our hearts is often a symbol of romantic love, and here it is used to protect us from sexual misconduct. The idea of giving our hearts to God instead, and setting our eyes upon God's example rather than someone we are physically attracted to is both a redirection of our sometimes wandering eyes, and a focus for our often-inconstant hearts. At first, it seems wildly inappropriate to redirect those kinds of thought and feelings to God, but perhaps that is part of the point... something that can wake us up to the fact that those kinds of thoughts and feelings need to be controlled and directed appropriately, according to God's law, and not just the whims of desire.
Today, whatever our temptations or desires, let's think on this advice, and work to apply it in our lives. Let's redirect our lust or greed or whatever else to the Lord. Let's use the time and the energy that we normally spend wanting something we can't have to wanting what God has to offer us. Let's give our hearts to something worthwhile, and to someone they can safely trust in. Let's put God first, and emulate his example, and turn our weaknesses and our failings into dedication and strength, through him.
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