Avoid Heart Troubles

There are many and various ideas and opinions as to how one should live his/her life as a Christian. Some involve doctrinal traditions that have become accepted as scriptural equivalent(the same importance as scripture), good works must be performed to ensure salvation. Some now believe the behavior of a Christian has nothing to do with that person spiritually, but it only affects the body and mental thinking of the Christian.(basic gnostic overtones).  Yes, many and varied beliefs are shaped and fashioned to make our very own custom Christian belief system, scriptural truths may be shaped to fit our opinions and reasoning as to how it should be.
The truth is serving our Lord must start first in the heart of the man or woman. The heart must be given to serve the Lord in purity, even if the performance of the person physically needs much refining as to behaviors and habits. Looking at a Christian with the eyes of the world cannot see what is in the heart of that person, only with the eyes of the Spirit of God may we see the individual as God views them (us). We all must perform regular heart exams to make sure we have not been lifted up with pride or errant thoughts and behaviors based upon physical lusts and desires, being drawn away from a pure motive for Christ and Christian service.
Of course, this cannot be done without personal time and devotion spent with the Lord in scriptural reading, prayer, meditation and thought, and worship of our Lord each day.  At times we all find ourselves in a dry spot when we don't feel like we are even in the right zip code for being part of the Kingdom of God, but thank God it is not dependent upon the way I feel. It is dependent upon what has already been accomplished by Jesus, and my role is as a faithful servant while here, just as HE set the pattern for us to follow. On that day of fulfillment of this life, we will have our place as sons and daughters of God. We must live and overcome by keeping our heart out of trouble, living the life prescribed in the bible and not the one customized to fit my personal life agenda. I am to live as His own, not my own.
Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Proverbs 28:14
Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil
things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
Mark 7:21-22
For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22
greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.
John 14:27
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot
give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.