I Want To Be A Girl That Guards Her Heart

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” ~Proverbs 4:23

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She sat beside the stream, and watched as the water from the stream gurgled and danced. She was here to get water for her family. The water they would drink, wash dishes in, and cook with. She treasured this stream, she cared for this stream, and she protected this stream. Why did she love this stream so much? Why did she feel the need to protect this stream? She knew that if something happened to this stream, it would change the way she lived her life. If the stream disappeared, she and her family would not have water. She knew that if the purity and cleanliness of the water was compromised she and her family would suffer. This water is necessary for survival, and because of that, she did all she could to protect this water.

God calls us to do the same thing with our hearts. Your heart is necessary for survival. Everything that you do is affected by what is in your heart. What does it mean to “guard your heart”? Guarding your heart means protecting it from sin, Satan, and worldly influences. It means cultivating your heart with truths from the Scripture, and not allowing these truths to be compromised. It means setting your mind on and seeking the things above, and fighting against evil that wants to creep into your heart.

Here are some reasons God wants you to guard your heart.

1. Your heart is extremely valuable. Your heart is what makes you who you are. It is the core of your person. Your heart is what carries the gems of the Scriptures. Your heart is what connects you to God. Only humans have the kind of heart that we are talking about here. If you did not have a heart, you would be at the same level as your pet, the flowers in your garden, the bricks of your house. Your heart is a special gift from God, a characteristic that is unique to humans. We generally don’t protect useless things. God wants you to guard your heart because it is priceless.

2. Your heart will live forever. Your heart is the only part of you that will live forever. When your body dies, your heart will continue to live. When your physical heart stops beating, your spiritual heart will be released to eternity. Your heart had a first day, but it will never have a last day. The impact of guarding your heart will last forever.

3. Everything you do comes from it. Your heart is the controller of your body. If your heart is not right with God, most likely your actions will not be right with God either. By guarding your heart, you are being discerning about what you allow to live there, what you believe, and what you allow to control you. Your actions will reflect what is in your heart. God wants you to guard your heart because your daily life will be affected by it.

How does God command you to guard your heart?

1. Watching what comes out of your mouth. “Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.” (vs 24)

2. Fixing your eyes on Christ and the path He has set for you. “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.” (vs 25)

3. Be intentional in your walk with Christ. "Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.” (vs 26)

4. Be aware of evil that will try to distract you. "Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” (vs 27)

He promises to help you. He wants to help. Why don’t we ask Him?

Let’s pray.

Dear Father,

You have commanded me to guard my heart, but I am going to need Your help. There is nothing in this world that I can do without You, Lord. Please guard the door of my mouth, so that I do not say anything that is offensive to You. Help me to fix my eyes on You, because Your way is the way that I should go. Please guide my feet, that I may walk forever in Your ways. Put Your hand over my eyes, Lord, that I may not be distracted by the evil that wants to knock me off of Your path. Forgive me when I make mistakes, because I know I will, and give me strength to get back on the right path. In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Reflect - What is one thing you can do to begin the lifelong journey of guarding your heart?