Today I would like to share the grace of God under the title, “Guard Your Heart.” There are indicators that allow us to predict the future in each area of life. Weather can be predicted through a weather forecast, and economic trends can be predicted through the stock price index or price index. Even so, there always seems to be ups and downs in our life. So any means or methods can’t predict our life accurately. However, psychologists claim that our future life is predictable. It is because our hearts become a criteria; when they read them, so to speak, they are able to predict our future. Our hearts determine our actions, which also make our habit. Thus the present state of our hearts indicate our future life. For example, those who are depressed will bring a depressing future as they focus on depressing things. On the contrary, those who live a joyful and positive life always think of good things so it will bring a joyful and happy life to them. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” When we fill our hearts with the Word of grace in the Bible, we can expect a bright and hopeful tomorrow. Human beings who have a broken relationship with God since Adam committed sin are living in the midst of anxiety and fear. Our contemporaries all have secret anxiety and fear in their hearts. Even husbands and wives have their own anxiety and fears which are secret to their spouses. English dramatist Shakespeare said, “The enemy to humans is worries and anxiety.” Anxiety makes bodies and hearts sick and makes people not enjoy a happy life. The Novelist Laureate Alexis Carrel said, “Those who don’t know how to fight against anxiety will die earlier than normal.” Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Nevertheless, we believers can overcome anxiety and worries. Psychologists studied the relationship between anxiety and faith and published the result of their research that believers were less troubled by anxiety and worries than unbelievers. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Since the fall of Adam, the relationship with humans and God was severed and they have had to live in worries, anxiety, restlessness, and fear. Therefore, in order to remove these natural anxieties and fears, we must reconcile with God first and put our hope in Him. Without God we can’t have eternal peace in our hearts. God is the only source of peace in the world. Psalm 42:11 says, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Human beings are weak. However, God is powerful and almighty. Humans are weak themselves, but become very powerful in God! Depending on what fills one’s heart, he can move mountains or lose balance in his heart and stumble and live a miserable life with discouragement and anxiety in his heart. We must have a center of gravity of heart by the Word of God, prayer and the fullness of the Holy Spirit. When God occupies our hearts and minds and His Word and the Holy Spirit fills them, we become powerful and strengthened. However, if our hearts become empty and confused and wander aimlessly, we will end up being helpless. Matthew 6:30-32 says, “If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” Proverbs 16:9 says, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” When we rely on the Holy Spirit, we will live a strengthened life by the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 4:7 says, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” We are just jars of clay. These earthen vessels are not as valuable and powerful. However, inside of each of them are priceless treasures. In each of these jars of clay are treasures so if someone mistreats them as valueless, he will be in big trouble. We are nothing, but as long as we hold Jesus as our Savior, no one can look down upon us. “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”(2 Corinthians 4:8-10) Jesus died and was resurrected so there is no power or authority to confront Him. As we accept Jesus in our hearts and bodies, the life of resurrected Jesus is ours. Therefore, we won’t be defeated only if we accept Jesus as our Savior, even if we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. Why? It is because Jesus who once died and was resurrected stays within us so even death has to be at peace. The work of life that makes us prosper spiritually, materially and physically and have life to the full will manifest in Jesus. Jesus died on the cross in our place so His precious blood has forgiven our sins for eternity. No more sins can take us to hell. As Jesus shed His blood on the cross and His body was miserably torn by a whip, the power of God that heals us has come to us so we will be no more destroyed by any diseases. Jesus has forgiven our sins by shedding His blood and made us holy to be filled with the Holy Spirit and by His stripes we are healed. He became a curse for us by dying on the cross to destroy our poverty and curses. He died and was resurrected to let us have the hope of eternal life. This once dead and resurrected Jesus is within our earthen vessel. As He enters into us, if we look into our jars of clay, we will find who is in them and rise up with Him, jars of clay will turn into golden vessels. When we look into jars of clay, we can say, “Lord, as You shed Your blood, I want to thank you for giving me forgiveness and righteousness.” Jesus will answer, “Okay. Don’t be afraid.” We also say, “Lord, by Your stripes I am healed! So I depend on You!” The Lord will say, “Don’t fear at all. I took your disease away already.” “Lord, as You are with me now, I can stand this hardship more than enough!” “Okay, as I calmed down the rough Sea of Galilee, do not fear but come with Me!” You know, Jesus has already come in your circumstances no matter what. When we take the death of Jesus in our bodies, its effect will bring the grace of life to us. God does not want us to be afraid. God called us by choosing us as His children and promised that He will never abandon us. John 1:12 says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--” We must not forget that we are God’s children. Isaiah 43:1 says, “But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.’” People tend to quibble over even small things, but God calls us as His own. How amazing it is! “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.’”(Isaiah 43:2) As almighty God is always with us, we do not need to be afraid or be discouraged no matter what kind of situations we face. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”(Isaiah 41:10) God will avenge our enemies. "O worm Jacob, see, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth." Isaiah 41:10 says, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." There are so many promises of God given to us. When we meditate on the Word, fear in our hearts and minds will be gone. 1 John 5:4 says, “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” We can overcome the world by our faith in the Lord. If worries and fear have filled your heart, you are an unfortunate person. People who believe in God are happy. This is because the Holy Spirit is in them and helps them to live a life where they are always joyful, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. We must resist the devil and demons with firm determination not to be overwhelmed by them but to live with God in our daily lives, so we are truly happy. Psalm 91:14-16 says, "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." Psalm 91:4-6 says, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.” God says in Isaiah 41:10 as follows, we can be secure in our hearts and minds. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” “For I am your God.” He does not say, “I am someone else’s God,” but clearly proclaims, “I am your God personally.” We easily assume that our God who created heavens and the earth is not interested in us humans so intimately. However, God definitely says, “I am your God!” When we think of this special relationship between God and us, we don’t need to fear anyone. Therefore, don’t be discouraged or frustrated in any circumstances, but think deeply that almighty God is your personal God. As this God is with us, not only individuals but also our country will be strengthened. 2 Samuel 5:10 says, “And he became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him.” As God was with David, he succeeded in everything he undertook. Likewise, if God is with each one of you, you will gradually become the head, not the tail; you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. As the source of strength is with you, you will prosper in everything you do. As God is with you, the power of prosperity and success is also with you so you will be much blessed. As God was and is with David, he could conquer other nations around Israel and became more and more powerful. We must recognize that God is the Presider over every country and nation. God sets up kings and deposes them. Therefore, as God is with us, even a weaker country can stand tall! As Korea receives Jesus as Savior and worships God and as long as He is with our politics, economy, education, culture, military, industry and every other area, even the North Korea’s dictator Kim Jeongun can’t threaten us by his nuclear weapons. We don’t need to fear him at all. Rather we must not forget that God is with us now!