Guarding my Heart! Because the word is hidden there!

 Proverbs 4:23  New International Version

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Proverbs 4: 20-26  Good News Translation

20My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen to my words. 21Never let them get away from you. Remember them and keep them in your heart. 22They will give life and health to anyone who understands them. 23Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. 24Never say anything that isn't true. Have nothing to do with lies and misleading words. 25Look straight ahead with honest confidence; don't hang your head in shame. 26 Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right. 27Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don't go one step off the right way.

 

I have always thought of this scripture as meaning to guard your heart regarding love and relationships. 

I have thought of this scripture to mean that we should guard our hearts from allowing things are people to come into our lives that may hurt us. 

    But as I have grown in the word and in my studies it means so much more than that to me.  I feel that King Solomon was talking about many things when he wrote this scripture.  And the thing that has been in my heart regarding this scripture is knowing that the word is a seed and the Bible tells us that we should hide the word in our hearts so that we may not sin against God. Psalms 119:11 says "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against you."  So, by the word being a seed, and we are planting that seed in our hearts we need to guard it with all that we have.  With our whole being, we have to guard the word of God.  The word of God is what teaches us how to live.  The word of God is our instruction and guide for our lives.  So, we must guard our hearts.  First of all, we have to make it a priority to study and meditate on the word of God. This is planting the seed in our hearts.  When we take the time to get in a bible class or study session, or when we sit alone and read and take notes and meditate,  we are cultivating the seed. This is not a one-time thing we have to constantly be students of the word, we have to have a hunger and thirst for the word! Once we begin to cultivate that seed we have to make sure that our hearts are an environment in which the seed can actually grow.  Your heart can not have hatred in it, it can not have malice and strife in it.  It can not have jealousy in it, the environment in which the seed is planted has to be a pure and clean space, conducive to growth.  Our hearts have to be ready for the seed to be planted it can not be rocky or stoney or that seed will not have a place in it.  Once we make sure our hearts are ready and prepared for the seed.  We must do all that we can to protect and guard that seed.  Protect your heart, Protect the seed.  Don't just allow anything to come into your life into your thoughts and into your heart.  Guard your heart so that the seed can flourish. One day you are going to need that word, that seed that you have planted.  You are going to have to witness to someone, and the word will come forth, you may have to encourage yourself and the word will come forth. Leading a congregation, or counseling someone there are so many areas of life that you may find yourself needing the seed that you have planted. 

    Your heart is extremely valuable and in most cases, you don't find people guarding worthless things.  Be confident in the word that you are guarding and hold tight to it.  Know that your natural life depends on the functioning of your heart.  Also, know that your spiritual life depends on the word that you plant in your heart!  For us to function effectively in the spirit we have to make sure that our heart is functioning properly and the BLOOD is FLOWING to it! Read your word! Study your word! Guard the seed! When your heart is full of the word, it will be willing to overflow into others Love, Peace, Gentleness, Mercy, Goodness.  When your heart is full of the word you can be of service to others, you won't be so easily offended, you will have an inviting and loving spirit, and you will be ready and willing to give.  

Guard your heart!  YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!

April