"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." - Proverbs 4:23
I like this scripture because it tells us that: above all else, we must guard our hearts. Why? Because our heart determines our course of action, our line of thinking, and how we respond to people and situations.
You can think of your heart serving as the center of everything in your life. Your thoughts, emotions, habits, and behaviors first begin with a seed planted in your heart.
This is why the Bible warns us to guard our hearts. We so often are quick to guard our reputations, our territory, and our possessions, but if we take our advice from the Bible, we need to be diligent in guarding our hearts.
There is much temptation to allow offense and bitterness to enter into our lives. If you scroll social media long enough or listen to the news you will encounter differing opinions and debates. If you don't guard your heart, the comments and opposing voices can make you angry, upset, and cause your heart to harden.
I find myself careful with how much news I ingest during this Covid-19 and campaign season. When I come across social media pages of those I know who differ in their opinion from me about the importance of wearing face masks, or their preferred presidential candidate, I either unfollow them for a season or scroll past their page.
This is my effort to guard my heart. I love them as a brother and sister in Christ and I do not want my heart to become hardened, or bitter toward them because of a differing opinion.
When we fail to guard our hearts, we are like a sports team that fails to play any defense. When there is no defense, the opposing team takes advantage and enters into the territory and scores all kinds of baskets and touchdowns.
Make the decision today that Satan is not scoring any easy lay-ups, or doing any touchdown dances in your end zone. Guard your heart. When you feel thoughts of offense, jealousy, fear, or insecurity creeping in, run to God's Word and call on Him for help. We guard our hearts by turning to God, reading His Word, and wisely determining what thoughts we allow to linger in our minds or immediately cast down.
Guard your heart above all else.
Before your reputation.
Before your political candidate.
Before your defense on why your idea is right and theirs is wrong.
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Prayer
God, thank you for your Word today. It is a great reminder for me to diligently guard my heart. Holy Spirit, help me in this area. I want a clean heart. I want to be led by pure motives. Remove any contaminants in my heart, so I can flow through life clearly. Loving you, loving others, and serving you and your Kingdom well. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Hi, my name is Kacie Starr Long. I am an author, speaker and I love to use my voice to point people to Jesus. When I'm not writing, I'm either working out at Orange Theory Fitness or sewing. God delivered me from food addiction and I have a sewing ministry for women who have been previously incarcerated and at-risk teens. I am the proud wife to Alfred T. Long, Sr and together we lead a non-profit that serves prisoners and their families. Connect with me at www.InspiredOverflow.com and via my YouTube page for more daily Christian teachings and encouragement.