"Guard Your Heart"

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

In this verse we find both a command and a warning. We are commanded to guard our hearts- in other words, protect them. And we are warned that there are consequences if we don't.

Let's start with the warning first. I won't spend much time on this because we all know that whatever we open our hearts up to will come in and take over them. This is why the Lord says to love Him with all our hearts- don't give place, or room, for anything else in our hearts because whatever is in there will be the governing factor of your life. So, if we don't guard/protect them, then we leave them open for the enemy's attack. We make them susceptible to his destructive devices. He will try to fill our hearts with bitterness, resentfulness, evil desires, lusts, immorality, selfishness, and so on- which will destroy us.

I want to talk a little more about the command to guard our hearts because this is the solution that will shut the door, and keep it shut, to the evil influences that would try to take over it. How do we guard our hearts? What can we do that will keep the door of our hearts closed and not give anything but the Lord access?

1) Be careful about what you set before your eyes. ("I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes. - Psalm 101:3) What you see really does influence you and that "image" will find its way into your heart. If not dealt with, it will breed lust and when lust is conceived it brings forth sin. ("Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.- James 1:15)

2) Don't allow the standards and ideology of this world to mold your heart. You do this by renewing your mind with the word of God. ("And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. - Romans 12:2)

3) Follow the word of God. It is one thing to read it, or know it, but it is in the doing of it that we guard our hearts. ("But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. - James 1:22)

4) Keep yourself in the love of God. ("Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."- Jude 1:21) You do this by staying close to the Lord through communing with Him in prayer and worship, through His word, through repentance when you sin, by constantly drawing near to Him and through self denial.

If we will heed the warning and follow the command, then we are being the "guard at the door" of our hearts and governing what comes in and what doesn't.

Have a great day. Guard your heart- that is a command and a warning.

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
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