Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Have you ever heard the concept of a frog boiling to death? The premise of this widespread anecdote is that if a frog is placed in boiling water, it will jump out.  BUT ... if it is placed in cold water that is slowly heated, it will not perceive the danger and will be cooked to death!

I recently heard that you should always change BEFORE you have to. Often, when things are going well (or at least not significantly bad), people do not feel the pressure to improve.

However, today's verse says that we should always guard our hearts. We should always be doing something to protect our families, our relationships and our faith in God.

In the seasons of smooth sailing, many slack off on praying...maybe not feeling the desperate need for God. I challenge you today to ALWAYS seek Him with Your whole heart.

When we pursue His presence and align ourselves with His Spirit, we are able to identify when the "temperature" around us is getting "hotter." We are able to "hop" out of potentially life threatening situations. God can always move in a crisis, but when we are sensitive to His Spirit, we can make choices that protect ourselves and our families from disastrous effects.

Dear Lord, Help me to always be aware of what is going on around me. Help me gauge the "temperature" of the situation I am in.

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.

Reflection: Are there areas of your life that you have become too lackadaisical in?