Here in Minnesota, we are peaking out from our frosty windows, finally emerging from our frozen tundra. The days of -20 degree weather, wind chill, and treacherous sidewalks are fading. The snow is clearing, and I even saw a guy in the grocery store wearing shorts when we hit +10 degrees. (It seemed a bit extreme.)
No matter the season, we Midwesterners are experts at protecting ourselves from the elements.
Remember those elementary school days? We’d spend half of recess just getting ready—pulling on pants under our dresses, wrestling with parkas, mittens, scarves, face masks, and those Wonder bread plastic bags tucked inside our boots to keep our feet dry. We were waddling snow warriors, barely able to stand.
As teenagers, we sacrificed warmth for fashion, skipping the wool scarfs and mukluks (and paying the price). In the summer, we’d slather on baby oil and suntan lotion, naively believing they’d protect our skin from the blazing sun. (They didn’t.)
Now as grown-ups, our protection rituals have only gotten more elaborate, haven’t they? We find ourselves lingering in store aisles, squinting at tiny print on fancy creams that promise miracles, wanting so badly to believe the enthusiastic beauty consultant when she tells us that the $68 miracle cream will “reverse time.” Good grief.
We’ve worked hard to protect our skin, but have we—have I—been as diligent in protecting my heart?
We let hurtful words settle in that tender, life-giving muscle until they become our truth. Hurt turns to resentment, and we find ourselves bracing for impact, living in tension, waiting for the next disappointment. And sometimes, my own reactions catch me off guard—words whispered under my breath, thoughts that reveal what’s truly in my heart. Lord, have mercy.
But our hearts matter.
King Solomon reminds us in Proverbs 4:23, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” That’s a really big deal, isn’t it?
So how do we protect something that’s tucked under layers of skin, muscle, and bone?
I found some good places to start in the verses that follow in Proverbs 4. (The Amplified Study Bible was especially helpful!)
❤️ Be careful what I say—my words matter.
❤️ Keep my eyes focused on Jesus—don’t let distractions pull me away.
❤️ Watch where I’m going—invite the Holy Spirit to guide me.
❤️ Stay on the right path—step away from anything that leads me away from Him.
When it comes to guarding our hearts, what we say, where we go, where we focus, and what we choose, truly shape our lives. That’s hopeful and empowering, isn’t it? We aren’t puppets dangling at the mercy of Minnesota weather, hurtful voices, or difficult circumstances.
We’re strong, purposeful women choosing to live full, abundant lives—walking with God through grocery store aisles, kitchen table conversations, and seasons of reinvention, seeing both sunshine and snowstorms through the lens of His Word. We are anticipating His goodness!
After all, if we can survive -20 degree wind chills in Wonder bread bag-lined boots, we can certainly nurture hearts that overflow with goodness!
So, let’s slip on our spiritual mukluks, dear friend, and brave this beautiful life together. Neither icy winds nor scorching sun will take us down—we’re women choosing to protect our hearts with heaven’s wisdom!
“A person full of goodness in his heart produces good things; a person with an evil reservoir in his heart pours out evil things. The heart overflows in the words a person speaks; your words reveal what’s within your heart.” (Luke 6:45 MSG)
