The Gospel isnt just a one time thing and a ticket to heaven, but something we all need each and every dayreally every minute. See, everything you do flows from your heart. The word translated as heart in our English Bibles is the Hebrew word lb. But its not protecting the way God intends. Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. The Lord Jesus Christ wants us to present our bodies to Him, including our minds, that He might transform us. So how do you keep from thinking whats wrong? If our physical heart is sick, our whole body will be sick also. What you say flows from what is in your heart (Luke 6:45 NLT). Mahoney, Kelli. He will attack your mind always with negative thoughts. But numbness is most often due to pain. Its important for us to understand that the things in our hearts drive our actions. Friends can make or break you. Put aside distractions and get immersed in God's Word. He works diligently to make sure the world is surrounding you with fear, sickness, poverty and every other kind of garbage he can use to destroy you. We guard our hearts against all kinds of distractions from our faith. God has called us to stand together! When God gets ready to change someone, how does He do it? February 17, 2023 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Guarding our hearts prevents us from buckling under the impact of bad influence. God knows how important the heart is how vulnerable it is to everything in life that he is constantly speaking to it, through Scripture, through the Holy Spirit, and even through each other. Watch. Neither of those are good. But the greatest of these is love(1 Corinthians 13). We may even justify them by saying theyre just little lies but can lies be little? Theres major road construction near me on the interstate. The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English Professional Writing from Gardner-Webb University. Surround yourself with the Right People. 9:3 The moral heart is depraved - Jer. How do you want to serve the Lord with that desire? Why Is it Important to Remember That Jesus Was Jewish? Everyone is different. BECAUSE "OUT OF THE HEART ARE THE ISSUES OF LIFE! 1. Yes, we know that we should guard the entrances to our heart: our eyes and ears, but its so hard! Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil (, 7 Things the Bible Says You Can Know for Sure, 15 Amazing Attributes of God: What They Mean and Why They Matter. Hence, it represents the mind, soul, or spirit. Just think whats right. Here are a few ways to know a heart is guarded: If we have a few of these things churning within us, our heart is being protected. His care about the condition of our hearts is preeminent in both Old and New Testaments. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Sometimes, we live in what we want to be true instead of actual truth. The second we take our eyes off of the cross we forget who we really are. Matters of the Heart. Ive noticed that as well for menot because its about getting up early in the morning, but more of if I dont start out with time with the Lord, the day just attacks me with whatever is most important vs me attacking the day telling it whats most important. Why Is Self-Control Compared to A City Without Walls? Who are you allowing to influence you? Thanks for sharing Paul and for reading! Particularly the part about listening to the desire God has placed on our heart and also protecting our boundaries by honouring the priorities and values God has given us. Look, you do not have to live with a troubled heart anymore. He is our ultimate protection. We must do something if we are going to control or protect our hearts. Stay away from evil. The more we read the Bible and study what God has to say about things, the more the word of God becomes part of us. Take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ ( 2 Corinthians 10:5 ). 24 Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Later on, God granted Hannah the answer to her prayer. But that hurt means we did what God asked. Do not see life the way unbelievers do; choose to see everything, good or bad from Gods perspective. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. If the heart represents the center of our existence and everything (all our problems, solutions, resolutions, happiness) come out of it, then we need to fill our center with good things. Let the words that come out of your heart be words that edify and build others up. Pray: Take those wrong thoughts captive to Christ! Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. Be not conformed to this world; but be transformed by the renewing of your mind(Romans 12:2). Matthew 5:8 - "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. We need people. We are to pay extra attention to our hearts and watch them closely. But the heart in the Hebrew culture represented a bit more than just emotion. How To Guard Your Heart Spiritually. Mahoney, Kelli. "Why It's Important to Guard Your Heart." Turn back. And instead of saying What am I going to do about this? I will say, I trust God to carry me through this and make a way for me., Choosing Faith - iBelieve Truth - August 21, 2023. What behaviors or habits do I know to be right, and yet avoid or ignore? We cannot escape the things that cause our hearts pain for all the things in this world that breaks our hearts, there are things that also bring it the most joy. As you read your Bible each day, locate and highlight more to add to your collection. We live and we learn from each experience, and each time, we get better at guarding our hearts as it heals from the past. Have you ever said something and then regretted it? The answer to that is that I don't believe we can truly be grateful when so many hearts are walking around in apathy, brokeness, pride un forgiveness, hurting and maybe full of resentment, bitterness, selfishness or maybe even revenge. The Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). Do everything in love. #hebrews12endurance #guardyourheart, Dont stray from the path that leads to Christ. The springs of lifewhere someone does all thinking, feeling, and choosing doesnt come into our heartsfrom external circumstances, but rather flows out of our hearts through the Holy Spirit. If we allow all the unkind forces in the world to pull us away from God, our heart becomes unhealthy. If you tell me what you think, Ill tell you who you are and the life you live. Guarding your heart is very important because the issues of life come from it; that is why you must learn how to guard your heart. Often, we believe lies and accept them as truth. I am not under the curse of lack. Theres no way to follow Jesus in isolation, it flat out doesnt even make sense. So when the Bible tells us to guard our hearts its really telling us to protect our consciousness like we were a prison guard. There are many benefits of guarding your heart. It begins in your thought life. Instead of being pushed back and forth by the issues of life, you will live life knowing that you are a valuable person. To help you with the process here are thirteen proven ways on how to protect your heart: 3. In the above verse, Solomon was not writing about your physical heart that is pumping blood throughout your body. Why is the thought life so important? Thank you for this! Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. How Should Christians Respond to Cryptocurrency? Find the path that leads to Jesus and go that way. When we plant God's Word in our heart, we have to give it time and allow it to produce what it says it will. Joshua 1:8 ESV, And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Have you ever been headed somewhere but got distracted by your thoughts or something thats happening around you only to end up in a different place than you intended? Thats exactly what God calls us to do with our hearts. When we make that decision to follow Jesus, we become a new creation. 23:7 The moral heart is stubborn - Ecc. Learn to measure what you think against the word of God and do not entertain every thought that comes to your mind. According to Proverbs 4, God says you must keep His Word constantly in your ears and in your heart. When you guard your heart, it serves as a testimony of the God you serve. When we are adopted as sons and daughters of the one true King, we come into a family and are sent on mission. Grounding ourselves in God's truth and close relationship with Him is how our hearts remain steadfast. They were fully aware that those influences would eventually flow out of a person. All rights reserved. As we learn to guard our hearts, our souls testify that we have been in the presence of God and so we draw others to Him. How can I overcome sin in my Christian life. All that has happened in your past and is happening now has already been paid at the Cross. Everything seemed great! ", How can a young person stay on the path of purity? That is why we are told to guard our hearts. Mahoney, Kelli. 8 Ways Satan Tries to Stop You from Worshiping, 4 Things We Get Wrong about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, 7 Things to Pray Regularly for Your Child's Faith Journey, A Prayer to Renew My Trust in God - Your Daily Prayer - August 20, Pastor Greg Laurie Lists Key Signs of Christ's Imminent Return, A Prayer for a Restful Mind - Your Daily Prayer - August 19, Loretta Lynn's Granddaughter and Willie Nelson's Son Sing 'Lay Me Down', 8 Surprising Things about You That Are Attractive to Your Husband, 8 Ways You Can be Ready for Jesus' Return, 7 Surprising Conflicts Grandparents Face and How to Tackle Them, 25 Verses That Give Us a Biblical View of Money, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. Study your bible -If you want to know how to guard your heart against things that will pull you away from God, the Bible is the best place to start. We are reminded of all the things that try to come against us. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. Confusing for travelers but necessary for improvements. In the Old Testament the word heart is used more than 800 times, but more than 200 times it deals with one's thought life, emotions, the wellsprings of life, those things that motivate and mold us. It has power to cleanse and keep you. 10. Im so thankful he did because its my favorite place to find solace in Gods Word. To get a better understanding of what it means to guard your heart above all else, lets look at two more Hebrew words ntsar and mishmr. Be intentional in sorting out everything you are thinking with the Father. She poured her heart to God so much so that Eli, the priest thought that she was drunk. Jesus has done everything for us. When God tears down an idol and the walls of a lie come tumbling down, truth remains. (2021, March 4). Before you can do a thing you have to think it. Colossians 3:1 ESV, This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. Proverbs Proverbs 4 Proverbs 4:23-27 Proverbs 4 NIV Proverbs 4:23-27 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. We begin again with a fresh heart that is soft and responsive to the truth of God's word. The demographic for these items varies from lovers exchanging Valentines Day gifts, children who exchange Valentines Day cards at school, and singles who just want their regularly-regimented candy, but it is now in the form of hearts that say, I Love You and Be Mine.. Molly Lawis the Editor of C.com. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Your attitudes lead to your actions. Begin to be intentional on all what you intake into your life. There's nothing like a KCM event. Proverbs 15:13 ESV, But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. But Matthew 6:33 reminds us to seek first the kingdom of God. No wonder the devil battles for the mind. We have to overcome temptations every day. Guarding your heart should be done continuously. Learn to overcome doubt -Doubt can creep in slowly. Seek out ( James 1:5) and retain the wisdom God is giving you ( Proverbs 4:5 ). All rights reserved. Our responsibility is to co-work with the Holy Spirit to guard our hearts above all else. Thanks for reading and for sharing Dennis! I have been reading posts regarding this topic and this post is one of the most interesting and informative one I have read. It means being careful, but it does not mean cutting ourselves off from the world. And as humans, we have a tendency to break each others hearts. Guarding our hearts means protecting ourselves as Christians from all the things that would come to harm us. Jesus has already paid for it all at the Cross. Philippians 4:9, Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/ThitareeSarmkasat. This particular proverb made it into the collection of King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. This last one sums up everything above and couldnt be more important. Be careful what comes into your mind. When you are discouraged the word of God will encourage you, and it will bring healing to your heart when youre broken. (James 4:4). Interestingly, lb also extends to the will, the mind, and even the intellect. We accuse Him of not wanting the best for us as if He were somehow responsible for our choices. Your heart IS who you are. We are admitting we cant do life on our own. Everyone experiences heartbreak, its a part of life. Then, watch your words, guard your heart and get results! What Is the Abomination of Desolation Mentioned in Bible Prophecy? She and her husband have three sons, two daughters-in-law, and three beautiful granddaughters and a spunky dog named Lincoln! Your attitudes are the sum total of your thoughts. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life Proverbs 4:23 (NLT). Dont stray from the path that leads to Christ. So, how can you guard your heart against the barrage of fear and negativity? Here are 4 simple ways! KCM's purpose is to mature believers worldwide in the use of their faith. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! The same advisor gave a great explanation of the heart, stating, Its the essence of who we are.. In His parables, we find wisdom for living our daily lives. Your friends and family gave you the support that you needed and were happy for you. God has called us to love each other as ourselves (Matthew 22:39), but what happens when fellow brothers and sisters break our hearts or when the church breaks our hearts? Amen. Most are found in Psalms. Weve all heard it said: A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. Why? What lies do I believe about myself or the world around me, and how is that affecting my relationship with God? Things seemed to be working in your favor. In this passage Solomon is talking about the sexual affairs of a young man. Your thoughts lead to attitudes; attitudes lead to actions; actions lead to those achievements. You did not have the peace that surpasses all understanding. Not just that he will also show you the traps that the enemy has put before you and how to guard your heart against them. As they say in the country, Whats down in the well comes up in the bucket.. But remember your real value is in Christ. It just got that way through pain, and we didnt intend for it to happen. The Bible considers the heart the seat of life or strength. Each of us has been given a task and we need to do it to the best of our abilities. Im calling it the thought life. As a woman of faith, drawing upon God's peace in times of chaos or stress can protect your inner peace and mental clarity. All rights reserved. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. 8 Surprising Things about You That Are Attractive to Your California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. If we only feed our heart junk from the World, our heart stops working the way it should. So when God's Word uses the phrase, "guard your heart and mind", I'm leaning in! In laymans terms, there are four main things you can do to guard your heart. (Proverbs 4:25). As youstart your daywith this truthful reminder, youllhave no choice but to glorify God in everything youdo because youllfind it so ridiculous that youget to do anything at all! This is His gift to us. Perhaps the real question is whyshould I guard my heart? What is the key to truly experiencing God? If something is no longer acceptable to us, then we must set a boundary. We have a responsibility in how we treat others, but also how we let others treat us. When God is in the heart, then we think right, live right, do right. When God is absent, we think wrong, do wrong, live wrong. Everything you do flows from it. Its at the source of broken families, divorces, assaults, wars, everything we do. The way of the world will always seem easier than the path required by God. All of us deal with worry and fear at times, but we should not ignore how we feel just because it is part of human nature. There will be times that you dont feel the Lords presence or feel like He is listening to your prayers. According to Proverbs 4, God says you must keep His Word constantly in your ears and in your heart. Thanks so much for reading and for sharing! (Psalm 55:22), I dont look at or listen to anything that is not pleasing to God. In Proverbs 4:23, ntsar is translated to mean keep but it could also mean to guard, protect, observe, preserve, maintain, or obey. Guarding your heart doesn't mean hiding it behind a brick wall. Article Images Copyright , 10 Secular Songs That You Can Pretend God Is Singing to You. It seems odd to say we can guard our hearts by accepting truth. God knows how important the heart is how vulnerable it is to everything in life that he is constantly speaking to it, through Scripture, through the Holy Spirit, and even through each other. Compare some scripture: The moral heart is the source of character - Prov. Start today and make speaking the Word part of your daily life. I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. It all begins with the thought life. It says, " keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life .". But thats fantasy and not realistic. See, your ears and eyes are gates to your soul. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. So much so that it has been reported that the average human now has an attention span of 8 seconds (thats less than a goldfish). But unless we focus on Christ who is our example, well get drawn away by things that were never any of our business in the first place. Jesus knows what is best for you, rest in him instead of trying to do things all by yourself, and he will lead you in the right direction. Awesome thanks so much Diane for reading and for sharing!! Guard It with the Breastplate of Righteousness. Matthew 24:42-44. We loved others. It shows that you are not trusting in the word of God, and that is sinful unbelief. To know how to protect your heart, you need to be aware of what is happening in your heart. Some of us will be pastors, teachers, EMTs, stay at home moms, musicians, mechanics, writers, or baristas. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. For fromRead more . You cannot follow that which you do not know, and that is why you need the word of God. Love that! Our hearts are incredibly important to God. Your heart is who you are. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Today, when we refer to our hearts, were usually speaking about our emotional centerthe place where love and feelings dwell. But our spiritual enemy, Satan, aims for our spiritual core - our soul. If we stuff a candy bar with bitter lemon, we cant expect sweet caramel to flow from it. We are reminded of all the things that try to come against us. Proverbs 27:19 As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. #hebrews12endurance #guardyourheart, the average human now has an attention span of 8 seconds, Do you know how to guard your heart? Music, videos, sex, books, language, power, money, and pride are just some of the many examples. See why more than 377,000 Christians have joined with usand how you can, too! 1. Thanks so much for reading! Follow your heart as the old adage goes, but the heart can be an unreliable source unless what we have allowed in is "true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy" (Philippians 4:8). Thanks Sean! John 8:32. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. Read the full affiliate policy. To know what is happening in your heart, you need to keep watch of your feelings, words, and attitudes. Guarding our hearts means being wise and discerning in our lives. You will put your hope in God like the Psalmist in Psalm 42:5. 2. Philippians 4:8 ESV, How can a young man keep his way pure? 5 Ways to Guard Your Heart Preparation By Roger Carr 2 Comments Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) What Is Your Heart? But when we guard our hearts, we remember that the best place to be is in the presence of the Most High because only then will we be able to receive His peace and bask in His love. We may not even realize weve lost all feeling. If you find yourself going down the wrong path, stop.
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