Protecting Your Heart
23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)
We live in a time where security is important. Businesses, governments and homes put up security cameras, install locks and alarms as a precautionary method to protect their merchandise, countries and homes. We spend countless dollars protecting ourselves from those who wish to steal and/or destroy what we have. But how much time do we spend on protecting our heart from someone or something breaking in?
Our heart is just as important as our home and we should do whatever it takes to protect it from becoming damaged and/or destroyed. The enemy will try everything he can to break into our heart and steal from us things like joy, forgiveness, love, etc. When we suffer through problems, trials and difficult situations, if we are not careful, the enemy will utilize these moments of weakness and distraction to try and break into our heart where he can damage us and steal from us. When this happens, we can become cold, uncaring, loveless and hateful.
What does the bible say we should do? We see our instructions in Proverbs 4:23-27:
23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. 24 Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. 25 Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. 26 Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.27 Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.
So, what does this scripture tells us?
We should:
- Guard our heart
- Watch what we speak; stay away from corrupt speech
- Look straight ahead, fixing our eyes directly before us
- Give careful thought where we walk
We shouldn’t:
- Get sidetracked
- Talk perversely/corruptly
- Follow evil
There are many things that could get us off course and lead us into other directions such as worldly events, family problems, work problems, illness, our flesh, pride and vanity, worldly ways, etc. Once our eyes are diverted from the path God has us on, we will begin to walk in that direction and soon, we open our heart and mind up to the ways of the world and we know who is the prince of this world.
2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience…Ephesians 2:2(NKJV)
When we look at the NLT version, it breaks it down a bit more:
2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. (NLT)
Our heart is important and we should take great care in making sure it is locked up tight so the enemy, our adversary, the devil, cannot break into it and steal, kill and destroy us. We should take as great of care in protecting it as we do our homes. We should be alert to the tactics of the enemy so we do not fall into his trap and let him in.
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
We should pray daily, staying close and connected to God.
2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. (Colossians 4:2)
Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41)
We must read the Bible and seek God’s guidance for our life on a daily basis.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105)
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. (Psalm 25:9)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. (Psalm 32:8)
We are in times when it may be very easy for our heart to grow cold, but when we put the above security measures into place, we will be better able to keep our heart protected from intruders. Begin today securing your heart with prayer and the Word of God, avoiding all distractions. Your life depends on it.
Lord, in a world of distraction and perverseness, help me to keep my eyes focused on You. Help me to secure my heart from the intruders of the world that only want to lead me away from you and to eternal death. Help me to be alert to the tactics of the enemy, keeping my feet firmly planted on the path you have me on. Lord, help me to see clearly in a world that is full of confusion and keep my family and I safe from those who wish to lead us in the wrong direction. Thank you for your love and protection, in Jesus name I pray…Amen.