Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” “Heart” can also be translated as mind, which includes the will, intellect and emotions, as opposed to the spirit of man wherein dwells the Holy Spirit in a believer. The “heart” or soul as it is defined, represents our areas of free will and choice, therefore we must always guard them.
Notice this Scripture says that we should spend all of our diligence to guard our heart.
According to Luke 6:45, Jesus contrasts a good man’s actions with those of an evil man. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth the good. And an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth the evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
Our actions are a result of what is in our heart. It is like a computer, whatever software we put in is what the computer will do and nothing else. A computer is only a machine that obeys what we put into it. Likewise, we eventually will do whatever we program into our hearts. We have no choice, this is a law!
Proverb 4:24-27 tells us how to guard the heart. The heart and mouth are connected. So are the eyes, the feet and your turning abilities. “Put away from you a wicked mouth, and devious lips put far from you. Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids look straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right hand nor to the left; remove your foot from evil” (Proverbs 4:24-27).
“Offspring of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).
Meditate on some of the ways you can guard your heart according to these Scriptures. What are you taking into your eyes, your ears, where do your feet go and what is your mouth saying? Which way are you turning, towards the Lord or towards the World?
Our mouth: “Let not any filthy word go out of your mouth, but if any is good to building up in respect of need, that it may give grace to the ones hearing. According to this verse, our mouths are to be used for building people up, not for cutting them down. We can guard our heart in this way” (Ephesians 4:29).
Our Paths or feet: “I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in the right paths. When you go, your steps shall not be narrowed, and when you run, you shall not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; do not let go; keep her; for she is your life. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not into the way of evil. Avoid it; do not pass by it; turn from it, and pass on!” (Proverbs 4:11-15).
Our eyes: “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways” (Proverbs 23:26).
“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23).
Our ears: “If any man has ears to hear, let him hear. And He said to them, Take heed what you hear. With that measure which you measure, it shall be measured to you. And to you who hear, more shall be given. For he who has, more shall be given to him; and he who has not, from him shall be taken even that which he has” (Mark 4:23-25).
Our turning: Turning determines our direction. Are we facing the Lord and His Kingdom, or are we facing the World and its lusts and pleasures? If we turn, or repent, then the Holy Spirit opens our eyes and we see Jesus. Acts 26:18 says, “…in order to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the authority of Satan to God, so that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”
Keep your heart honest: “But those on the good ground are the ones who, in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it and bring forth fruit with patience (Luke 8:15).
The Word of God will do the work:). “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
The Promise for guarding our hearts is to be blessed by God. Psalms 1:1-3 says, “Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is only in the law of the LORD; and in His law he meditates day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivulets of water that brings forth its fruit in its seasons, and its leaf shall not wither, and all which he does shall be blessed.”
Proverbs 3:5-8 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. What is the promise God gives us for giving Him all of our heart? What is our responsibility?
“Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).
The issues of your life are controlled by your heart. Keep it clean, keep the Word in it. Watch your mouth, your ears, your feet and path, guard it with all of your energy.
ISOB Discipleship Training Manual. Larry Chkoreff (WALK) (Guard Your Heart)
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