Guard Your Heart

Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep thy heart with all dilligence; for out of it are the issues of life." The New Living Translation puts it this way, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do."

In Western society, we tend to think that our seat of the emotions (where we think, feel and reason) is our brain, but the Bible identifies this place as our heart. This is the place where everything that we see and experience is recorded. These things affect everything that we do. I believe that is why the writer of Proverbs warned us to guard our hearts, but how do we do that? The word "heart" is mentioned 855 times in the KJV Bible so I decided to search some of these verses for the answer.

Here are some things that I want to make sure are in practice in my life:

1. I must recognize God in my heart - Psalm 14:1 says, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." Don't want to be a fool!
2. I must trust God with all my heart -Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy paths."
3. I must memorize God's Word - Psalm 119:11 - "Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee."
4. I must love others sincerely and from a pure heart - I Peter 1:22 - "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart."
5. I must spend more time cultivating the virtues of my heart than on my outward appearance - I Peter 3:3-4 - "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."
6. I must serve God from my heart. - Ephesians 6:6 - "Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart."
7. I must love God with all my heart. - Matthew 22:37 - "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."
8. I must guard my heart against things that are in it. - Mark 7:21-23- "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man." Okay, so I'm not a man, but a woman's heart can contain these same evil leanings!
9. I must strive to keep a merry heart. - Proverbs 17:22 - "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." I want to be a blessing to those who are around me and uplift their spirits.
10. I must submit my heart to God for examination and be willing to let Him lead me in His ways. - Psalm 139:23-24 - "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." 

New Life

We can learn so much about God and life by looking at nature. Paul tells us in Romans 1:20 - "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made..."
 I was pondering some things the other day while looking at a caterpillar. People are like caterpillars in many ways:

• Both are creations of God.
• Both are complex and unique in their makeup.
• Both must undergo transformation in order to reveal God's true beauty their life!

 A caterpillar is a wonder to look at because God created it, but there is not much beauty in it. Its markings may be beautiful and unique, but it is slow moving, round and rarely noticed. Before we die to self and come alive in Christ, our life is like the caterpillar's: mundane and spent seeking self fulfillment. In a butterfly's life cycle, the chrysalis (or pupa) is the transformation stage within which the caterpillar tissues are broken down and the adult insect's structures are formed. We can liken this to the sanctification that Christ develops in us over time through our journey with Him. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Transformation for the caterpillar comes when it emerges from the darkness of the chrysalis into new life as a beautiful mature butterfly. Transformation for us as humans comes when we emerge from the darkness of living in our sins and are reconciled to God through Christ Jesus unto new life in Him!! Though the life long process may be painful at times, God's goal of forming us to the image of Christ is so worth letting go of any comfort that we might hold dear.


Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your patience and work in our lives. May we as Your creation bring you glory today and forever!! AMEN!!



(pictures taken at the butterfly exhibit at Close Memorial Park in Springfield)