“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out it flow the issues of life” Proverbs 4:23

Whether you are a leader or a follower, or a little of both – you can’t afford to let certain things take root in your heart. Any one of these five things can destroy you, your family, and your career if you let them infect your heart!

1. Discouragement. Sometimes it feels like there is no hope and you haven’t got a friend in the world – but that is never true! Learn to keep things in perspective and laugh off your failures. Keep your self-image rooted in God’s love and just keep moving forward! Prov 18:14

2. Worry. Just another word for fear. Fear confuses us and distorts our judgement. It keeps us fixated on what we can’t do instead of what we can. Such chronic anxiety is really just a failure to trust God. Make time to pray things through and then trust that God loves you enough to look after you. Prov 12:25

3. Lust. Literally means a strong desire for the wrong thing. Let it into your heart and you will crash and burn like a helium balloon in thunder storm. Lust blinds us to what is right and what is wrong. It’s a dirty thief that steals our happiness. It makes us use people for our own gratification instead loving them for their edification. Repent and get your mind focused on helping others. Prov 6:25-29

4. Offense. Oh, how many opportunities we have to get offended at people! But offense is a trap. It will eat away at your insides and drive a wedge between you and people you love. Next time somebody hurts your feelings just catch yourself and say, “Uh-uh-uh! I’m not falling for that one!” Prov 18:19

5. Complacency. You could call this one Success Disease! We’re most susceptible to it once we’ve accomplished enough to be secure and well fed with the fruits of our successes. But failure is a restless hunter that preys upon the careless. Go to bed every night with a vision and wake up with a Big Hairy Audacious Goal instead! Prov 6:10-11