A WORD FOR TODAY 10 FEBRUARY 2021

*A WORD FOR TODAY*

*GUARD YOUR HEART FROM EVIL*

_"And he called the people to him again, and said to them, Hear me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things which come out of a man are what defile him.”(Mark 7:14-15)_

_*There is need to always protect and guard what supplies you strength and energy from breaking down. When the body is healthy and the different organs in it are functioning well, we have all the strength to do so much more, but when it becomes weak as a result of sickness, our productivity level is cut short.*_

_The readings of today are reminding us to make sure that we guard our heart from evil. God gave us life and He created us with free will that helps us to make a choice, however, the choice we make, good or bad will determine what we shall become._

_*If you make the choice to obey God's commandments, you shall live well here on earth and gain eternal life in the end, but when one takes the path of disobedience, the end result is death. In the garden of Eden, man was given an instruction, but he made his own choice and we all know the outcome of that choice.*_

_The heart is the center of our being, it is from it that we become good or evil, depending on what we have fed it with. If we feed it with good, it will produce goodness, but if we feed it with evil, it will also produce evil._

_*We must guard our heart from evil. Just as we employ security men and women to guard our home from being broken into by thieves, so we must guard our heart from tilting towards evil. Temptations of life must surely come, but if we are on guard, we will not fall.*_

_God created us with the capacity to be good and to do good. Yes, there is evil in the world, but if we choose to be with God and do what He wants, we will not become slaves to evil deeds, but sons and daughters of righteous living._

_*Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you do your work and do have a wonderful day. May Jesus give you the grace to guard your heart against evil. Amen. And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.*_

*Meditation:* Genesis 2:4-9,15-17/Psalm 104:1-2,27-30/Mark 7:14-23

*Watch-Word:* Bless the Lord, O my soul.

*Stay at alert always and your heart will not be led astray into evil. Be watchful!*

(Wednesday of the fifth week in the ordinary time. Year I)