John 7:38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.’”

This week we are discussing how we can keep the river of God’s Spirit flowing in our life. Here is step two.

Step 2: Set your heart on the right path.

Proverbs 23:19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path:

Have you ever have used a GPS in your car? Whether it was on your phone, built in your car, or one of those that you set on your dash, you’ve most likely has some sort of experience with a GPS. They are handy…when they work. However, you don’t just put the address in the GPS and then set your cruise control; you have to put your hands on the wheel and steer it there. The same is true with your heart. It is great that you know the word of God and that you love God. It is great that you know the way you should go, but your heart is not going to automatically go there.

You have to set your heart on the right path.

Two ways to set your heart on the right path:

a. Set your heart on the right path by feeding it the right things.
What you hear with your ears is going to come out of your mouth. You cannot help what you hear in some conversations, but you can combat it by filling your heart with faith from God’s word. Many of the most successful diet plans are not just about cutting back what you eat; it’s a matter of changing what you eat. You trade the Twinkie for a banana. You trade the pizza buffet for a sub sandwich. Instead of eating a bag of chips you eat a bag of grapes. Why does this work? This substitution works because we know instinctually that our bodies crave nourishment. When we nourish it with the right things it actually grows in a way that is healthy.

The same is true with your heart. It craves affection, significance, and purpose. So why not feed it with things that can actually fulfill its desire? If you constantly fill your mind and your heart with Hollywood’s definition of significance, your heart is going to become attracted to what you are feeding it. Conversely, if you fill it with good things then those good things will begin to flow out of you.

b. Set your heart on the right path by directing it to do the right things.
You don’t do good deeds to earn righteousness. We do good deeds to channel the flow of His spirit that He wants to put in our lives. Whenever I choose to act in obedience to God’s word and it goes against what my instinct wants to do, I am setting my heart on the right path.

• Bless those who persecute you. That is not natural, but it sets my heart on the right path.
• Pray for those who despitefully use you. It’s not normal, but sets my heart on the right path.
• When someone demands you to walk one mile, go two. It’s not normal but it sets my heart on the right path.
• Rejoicing when you face trials of all kinds makes no sense. But it sets my heart on the right path so that I can experience the completeness that God can bring to my life during the trial.

Jesus is more concerned about your health than your happiness. God is not opposed to your happiness, but He knows that if you make choices that forfeit your health then those choices are going to undermine the life you really want to live. The way you keep the flow of God in your life healthy is by setting your heart on the right path.

Today’s Challenge: Examine where your heart is trying to lead you. Is it leading you away from God’s best plans for your life? Is it encouraging you to take hold of an attitude that may actually clog the flow of God’s spirit into and out of your life? Don’t just do what comes natural. Instead, listen to what the word of God says to do and embrace His word. Each time you embrace His word over your own thoughts you are inviting the river of His Spirit to flow in a greater measure in your life.

Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a message recently preached at CFA. To listen to this message in its entirety go to www.pastorgregsanders.com