Verse: "Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life." Proverbs 4:23 HCSB
NKJV -"Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life."
MSG (v. 23-27) "Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust."
NIV- "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
"Guard" -- by definition is;
–verb (used with object)
1. to keep safe from harm or danger; protect; watch over: to guard the ruler.
2. to keep under close watch in order to prevent escape, misconduct, etc.: to guard a prisoner.
3. to keep under control or restraint as a matter of caution or prudence: to guard one's temper.
4. to provide or equip with some safeguard or protective appliance, as to prevent loss, injury, etc.
5. Sports . to position oneself so as to obstruct or impede the movement or progress of (an opponent on offense): The linebacker moved to his right to guard the end going out for a pass.
6. Chess . to protect (a piece or a square) by placing a piece in a supportive or defensive position relative to it.
–verb (used without object)
7. to take precautions (usually followed by against ): to guard against errors.
8. to give protection; keep watch; be watchful.
To guard our hearts, is a defensive and offensive thing. Defensively we keep our hearts safe, by protecting, watching over, take precautionary measures, and restraining idle thoughts & words. Offensively we position ourselves as to obstruct or impede our opponent the enemy. Definition #4 above states, 'to provide or equip with some safeguard or protective appliance, as to prevent loss, injury, etc.' Our defensive equipment isn't like simple sports protective equipment, we can wear spiritual armour from God. This will help us defensively and offensively. (Read about the armour in Ephesians 6:10-18) We wear our 'helmet of salvation' to protect our heads, our minds, our thoughts, our visions & dreams, our senses -- but also our heart. What goes in, must come out. That which we see, hear, touch, smell & taste affects us in more ways than we think consciously. It affects our unconscious thoughts as well. The 'breastplate of righteousness' is full body armour, that protects our physical body, as well as our hearts. The darts of the enemy cannot penetrate through the breastplate to pierce our hearts. The 'belt of truth' basically keeps us on our feet, telling and sharing the truth. Jesus is the way, the TRUTH and the life -- satan conversely, is the Father of LIES. Know the Truth! Speak the Truth! Live the Truth! If we didn't have our belt on, our pants will come down. We don't want to face the enemy with our pants down! Our feet must be fitted with the 'shoes of the gospel of peace'. Everything we do, everywhere we go we must be spreading the peace of the gospel to the world. The gospel is where our salvation lies, our heart must believe it and confess it. Standing firm then, we take our 'shield of faith', with which we can extinquish all the fiery darts of the enemy (which protects our entire self); and our 'sword of the Spirit' which is the Word of God. Get the Word in, and it's the Word that will protect you. Use the Word on all occasions, in good and bad. Seek out the blessings, and the promises that are in God's Word for you and every believer. But remember to be obedient to the tasks at hand that the Lord has called you to, to receive those benefits. If we have the right stuff going in, our mind and our hearts will usually tell us the right thing to do. We all know the saying, 'Garbage in, Garbage out' -- but we don't usually think about it conversely, 'Good stuff in, Good stuff out'. As in the translation found in the Message, "Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust." We are going to see, hear, smell and possibly touch or taste some things that are not meant for a 'child of the King' -- those things all impact us, and the way we think, act and speak. If we keep our eyes straight ahead, the 'sideshow distractions' can just be blurs as we pass them, leaving them 'in the dust' -- striving ahead as we look forward to the plans that the Father has for us. However, if we allow ourselves to be 'tempted', just one simple glance to the 'left or right' can keep our minds entangled, and therefore releasing the guard that is set upon our hearts.
Guarding your heart, mind and tongue -- Right now we are reading a book called 'The Power of Your Words' by Pastor Robert Morris. (Gateway Church) Such a great reminder to watch our tongues, and to guard our minds and hearts. I highly recommend the book, and I've only read up to chapter 4. :)You can order it at your local Christian bookstore or online -- It's an older book, so you probably will have to order it.
Remember Jesus said, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:6-8 NIV
"What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us."
2 Timothy 1:13-14 NIV
BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING!
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