“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” – Proverbs 4:23
Are you familiar with Dr. Phil’s common question, “How’s that working for you?” I chuckled to myself when thinking on this verse, and how we have such an active part to play in guarding. Reflecting on certain seasons in my life, it would appear that I wasn’t guarding very much at all.
Yet we’re commanded to guard our heart above all else. Seems to be a pretty important command, don’t you think?
We get further clarity of what we’re guarding when we look to the verses leading up to 23.
“My child, pay attention to what I say.
Listen carefully to my words.
Don’t lose sight of them.
Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
For they bring life to those who find them,
And healing to their whole body.” (v.20-22)
With all the things and people calling for our attention, it’s easy to lose sight of God’s Words. It is an active choice to pay attention. To allow the Words that God has spoken to permeate into our heart – which represents the center of our reasoning, emotions, and thinking. Since the Word of God is living and active (ref. Hebrews 4:12) it brings life to us and heals us, having the opportunity to completely change our life. This is why it’s so important to guard our heart… because God’s Word is to be written on it, moving in power, and changing us from the inside out. What flows from our heart affects everything else in our lives.
So, how do we guard our hearts?
“Avoid all perverse talk;
Stay away from corrupt speech.
Look straight ahead
And fix your eyes on what lies before you.
Mark out a straight path for your feet;
Stay on the safe path.
Don’t get sidetracked;
Keep your feet from following evil.” (v.24-27)
We guard our hearts by clinging to what is aligned and in agreement with God’s Word. We’re to fill our heart with Truth and then guard that Truth, regardless of how we feel, so that Truth governs the way we live our life. Everything else we avoid, so we can stay on the path that is God’s best for us. Our behaviour is directly connected with the health, or lack thereof, of our heart, which amplifies the need for Truth to reign in us.
So, guarding your heart…“how’s that working for you?”
As we head into our day today, let’s keep our eyes fixed on Him, trust His instructions and not let go of them.
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