There is so much going on around us right now. The world is in chaos. The church is in a sad state with all the exposures and everything going on, not to mention pastors who are compromising the Scriptures. Social media lures people, getting them to like their favorite podcaster, teacher, or influencer. These are all distractions taking us away from all that we should guard near and dear to our hearts and, more importantly, all that we should guard for the sake of the Kingdom of God. With that in mind, I want to encourage you in several spheres of life to guard your heart. Recently, the Lord took me back to Proverbs 4:23, which says: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” As I pondered this Scripture, my thoughts turned toward one of the promises Jesus made. The promise is that He is coming again for those who have believed His word and accepted Him as Savior and Lord of their lives. See John 14:3: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
Guard Your Heart Scripture
However, while we know that He will return, the time of His return is uncertain.
See Matthew 24:42: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” No one knows the exact time of the return of Jesus Christ, but we can recognize the times we’re living in. As I mentioned above, with all that is happening all around the world, it’s obvious that the time is short. I often challenge myself with this question: “What do I want to be found doing with my life when the Lord returns?” This helps me to keep my life and priorities in perspective.
Looking back to the verse I started out with, Proverbs 4:23, how do we guard our hearts? Let’s look at a few thoughts on keeping a guard in our lives.
Guard our Attitudes
We need to make sure we’re building these characteristics into our lives on a daily basis. This will help us to walk in the Spirit rather than in our flesh, meaning our own thinking.
See Galatians 5:22-23 and Galatians 5:16:
- Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
- Galatians 5:16: “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Guard Against a Deceitful Heart
Daily ask the Lord to show you what needs to be purged from your heart. Remember, as believers, we are in the world but not of it.
See Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
Guard Your Tongue
See Proverbs 21:23 and Matthew 15:18:
- Proverbs 21:23: “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”
- Matthew 15:18: “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.”
– “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.(Proverbs 21:23) and But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. (Matthew 15:18)
Guard Your Family
See Psalms 127:1: “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”
As the verse clearly shows, without the Lord leading us in our homes, we will not do our best we could do. There is so much in the world today that wants to tear apart families, and the best protection against these evils is the presence of the Lord in our lives.
Guard Your Testimony
The Bible talks a lot about living a holy life separated from the ways of those who are not disciples of Jesus Christ. As Christians, we are to be different than the world, not like them. My husband often says, “No matter where you are you’re being a testimony for either God or for the devil. You make the choice.”
See Philippians 2:15: “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”
The wording of this verse in the NLT version is interesting: “so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”
Guard Your Love
We must love God in every area of our lives. Remember, He loved us enough to send his son to die on a cross for our sin. Let’s love God and those around us.
See Luke 10:27: “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”
In Closing
As you see, we have much to guard in our lives. So, until next time, think of your life in the light of eternity.
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