The wise words of my mother, Tee Croyle, still guide Big Oak’s mission today. As she recently spoke to the team at Big Oak, she encouraged us to guard our hearts. She knows, as you do, that when we least expect it, even when things are going great, issues of the heart can balloon out of control. What might start as a personal issue, an unresolved conflict or even a misunderstanding can quickly grow into bitterness and distraction. But, if we are willing, we can discipline ourselves against these missteps.
In thinking about the consequence of forgoing this discipline, I’m reminded of the Peshtigo fire, the deadliest wildfire in American history. Despite a particularly dry season across the Midwest in October 1871, some farmers continued the “controlled burn” method, lighting a small area in a controlled way to burn out unwanted plants and vegetation, with the ash functioning as fertilizer. Unfortunately, this fire jumped outside the berms and in a short time, the Peshtigo fire had chewed through 1.2 million acres killing over 2,000 people.
You see, fire is not neutral. Inside the boundaries of where it’s intended to be, it kills unwanted weeds and stimulates growth. But when a fire gets outside the bounds, it will leave destruction in its wake. Likewise with issues of the heart, only when we as believers live within the parameters of God’s design can our marriages, parenting, communities, passions and purpose all flourish. When these parameters aren’t rooted deep, everything around us burns to the ground. A single event can manifest into engulfing flames. And the momentum of our decisions will either compound a wildfire of good or evil.
Let’s remain vigilant in defending against 3 heart conditions:
1. Naive heart: Those too afraid to acknowledge their weaknesses are the ones most susceptible to fall to them.
2. Unattended heart: Both hot and cold can be great. The slow progression to a lukewarm heart happens because it’s left unattended.
3. Offended heart: Probably the most dangerous of all, the offended heart dwells in a dry bone oasis convincing us that our thoughts are gospel.
These heart conditions take us to the valleys of speculation, bitterness, doubt, depression and inaccurate interpretations. God has planted a calling inside each of us, one that declares His glory and points others to the hope He offers. The author of chaos will creep into our minds and our habits, seeking to confuse our calling in vital areas of our lives, and there are eternal ramifications if we allow it.
Remain diligent in understanding the enemy’s ways, denying any attempt to put a ceiling on the vision God has for your life and for your family.
Brodie Croyle
Executive Director, Big Oak Ranch
