Guard Your Heart: Identifying What Lies Within

Read Proverbs 4:20-27.

It is the intent of the author of Proverbs to instruct his children (namely, his son) in the ways of wisdom.

Notice he tells him to be attentive to my words.

He is commanding that his son pay close attention to what he is saying, and that he needs to keep them within [his] heart (verse 21).

This father, like many fathers and father figures, desires the best for his children. He may not be perfect, but he has lived some years and learned some things.

In fact, if tradition holds true, we know that this would be Solomon’s words to his son (probably Rehoboam, who would be the cause of the division in the Kingdom of Israel when he took the throne, 1 Kings 12).

Solomon is considered the wisest man to walk the earth, apart from Jesus Himself.

These words of wisdom from Solomon are life and healing to those who live by them.

Notice, it does not say that those who keep these words and do as he says will live easy lives.

Rather, they will give life when life seems to have no meaning or purpose, and healing pain and agony creep in.

Verse 23 is a very important command that we must not overlook.

Read verse 23.

We are told that from the heart flow the springs of life.

What exactly does that mean?

Jesus gives a glimpse of the meaning in Matthew 12:33-37.

Read Matthew 12:33-37.

The spring that flows from our heart, through our mouth, reveals what we have in us. It’s either going to be good, or it’s going to be bad.

For the person who has not called on Jesus for forgiveness of sin, it will always be bad. It can never be truly good, by the standard of good that God has given.

For the person who has been forgiven and is in Christ, it can be either good or bad. It will never be always good.

Read Romans 7:15-25.

The reality is that we are engaged in a battle for our hearts and minds.

That is why the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus to put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6).

We must be fully equipped to engage in this daily battle.

James writes in chapter 1 of his epistle, count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.

Who, in their right mind, rejoices when hardships come?

Well, the person who desires to live in righteousness.

Trials are like the pressure cookers of life.

They keep adding heat until we reach a boiling point and blow up.

And when we blow up, the issues of life freely flow out of us and what is in our heart is revealed for you and others to see.

Read James 1:19-27.