Are You Guarding Your Heart? [Part II]

Proverbs 4:20-27 (KJV)
²⁰  My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
²¹  Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
²²  For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
²³  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
²⁴  Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
²⁵  Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
²⁶  Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
²⁷  Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Last time we discussed verses 20-22. Today we’ll look at the rest of the verses.

Proverbs 4:23 (KJV)²³  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23 (AMP)
²³  Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

Combining these two translations, we’re told to keep and guard our hearts because out of our hearts come forth the issues or springs of our lives. What does this mean?

To keep your heart means to maintain and preserve your heart and you do this by making God’s Word a priority in your life. His Word can’t just be an add-on at the beginning and end of the day. It has to be a priority. Remember, Jesus said we don’t live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

We’re told to keep our hearts with all diligence which means to guard and keep watch over our hearts. What are you watching? This is important because what you watch and listen to gets into your heart through the eye and ear gates! What are you watching and listening to on TV? Take inventory and you’ll be amazed at how much garbage is thrown at you. Don’t let it in!

And while I’m on this subject, it’s not only what you watch and hear, it’s what is coming out of your mouth that will actually get back into your heart. Don’t let the negativity of the world come out of your mouth. Speak words in line with God’s Word and watch the good results they bring.

The issues of life flow out of your heart. Remember that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So whatever is in you in abundance will come out. That’s why it’s imperative that we renew our minds with the Word of God so that we can displace the negative thoughts and words that are there and only have God’s Word in it.

Proverbs 4:24 (KJV)²⁴  Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

Now we see what to stay away from as we guard our hearts. A froward mouth is one that speaks negative words contrary to God’s Word. We’re not to speak in agreement with sin, sickness, and death. Things like I’m getting a headache, the flu, a cold, or that’s killing me, etc. is perverse talk. Anything that is false, dishonest, and contrary to God’s Word is perverse and actually draws that thing to you.

It’s the same with fear. Fear of something, when voiced with your mouth, actually draws that to you. Did you ever notice that those who say they’re afraid of spiders, actually see a lot more spiders than people who don’t confess that fear?

Here’s another one – we can’t afford this or that…Guess what? Those people never have more than enough finances to meet their needs. They’ve planted poverty seeds and they’re reaping a poverty harvest.

Proverbs 4:25-27 (KJV)²⁵  Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
²⁶  Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
²⁷  Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Finishing up these verses, we’re told to keep our eyes looking straight ahead, not at all the things the devil’s doing and distracting us with. We’re to watch where our feet are going, where we’re headed, by letting the Holy Spirit lead and guide us and that way we’ll be established and able to live the victorious life God has for us!

Praise the Lord of glory!

Matthew 12:34b (KJV)
³⁴  … for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Luke 4:4 (KJV)
⁴  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

— Pamela