“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
Proverbs 4:23
Various translations or versions of this proverb impress upon us how important the heart is. We must guard it, for “that’s where life starts” (The Message), “for everything you do flows from it” (NIV, 2011), “for it determines the course of your life” (NLT).
What is at the heart of us is of utmost importance, so we must take care to guard it from the world’s control.
Jesus said of mankind that “out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45b). Perhaps like me, you have on occasion been shocked by something that came out of your mouth. You were forced to confront what was actually in your heart. And the weight of the sin of it was very convicting.
Try as we may to guard our hearts by setting our minds on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable (see Philippians 4:8), we fall short every day. But we can be encouraged as Paul tells us that when we bring our prayers for help to God, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (v. 7).
What is at the heart of us is of utmost importance, so we must take care to guard it from the world’s control.
Jesus said of mankind that “out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45b). Perhaps like me, you have on occasion been shocked by something that came out of your mouth. You were forced to confront what was actually in your heart. And the weight of the sin of it was very convicting.
Try as we may to guard our hearts by setting our minds on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable (see Philippians 4:8), we fall short every day. But we can be encouraged as Paul tells us that when we bring our prayers for help to God, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (v. 7).
Scripture Focus
Proverbs 4:23-27
Insight
We are reminded in Proverbs 24:12 that the Lord who guards our life knows, weighs, and perceives our heart.
Bible In A Year
- 2 Kings 5-6
- Proverbs 13
- James 4-5
