“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23
This is interesting to think of eh? If everything flows from our hearts…
Our attitude
Our feelings
Our thoughts
Our actions
Our words
…then how are we guarding what goes into it?
What do you allow into your heart?
What is the driving force behind who we are and what we do?
The word “guard” is one suggesting authority to take action…. It’s nobody else’s responsibility except ours to guard our hearts.
To watch. Preserve. Keep. Conceal. Guard.
To guard well, it’s going to take effort and planning. And the very fact that we have to guard our hearts suggests that there will be people and things that will work at breaking through the walls of our heart - either by way of intrusion or because we haven’t done our part in protecting it. Let’s not be oblivious to the sly ways that the enemy works at tearing us down… he targets our hearts. While his methods vary, his purpose is for destruction. We don’t want to ignorantly give him an opening to cause havoc because we haven’t claimed the ground that is ours to defend.
I have learned the hard way that boundaries are not only helpful, but they are necessary and important for thriving in our walk with God. Boundaries help us to not comply to voices around us and to keep us focused on what we value. Boundaries allow us to protect what is arguably one of the most important things we’ve been entrusted to guard – our hearts.
So, tangibly, what does this look like?
Maybe this looks like limiting time on social media so that we don’t succumb to drama that can fester or instill comparison in us. Or to stop watching that television series that is filling our hearts and mind with perverse language and corrupt talk. Maybe it’s limiting or ending that relationship where trust has been broken and excuses have been thrown around to account for their actions. Boundaries may look different to different people, but I fully believe that if they are wrestled out in prayer - listening to the Holy Spirit – where they all hinge on His direction and leading, then we will be more self-aware, and conscious of the health of our heart and how we’re doing at protecting it.
So how do we know where to start?
We ask Him!
Start by asking where you’re most vulnerable… where do you need to be cautious? Where do you get trapped easily? Where do you need safeguards in place to protect your heart and the overflow that comes from it? He leads us with great comfort and carefulness, to paths that fix us in direction of health, strength, and His will. He won’t let us down when we seek His direction in how to guard our hearts.
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