This morning as I was praying, the Lord brought a scripture to mind that I want to share with you today.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23
The Amplified says it like this; Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.
My favorite is the one from The Passion Translation says it like this; So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.
As I was meditating on this scripture, the Lord showed me something. He took me back to the day before when I had to grab something at a store.
Although it has been almost two years, I still see fear on the faces of many people, either in their eyes or behind their masks. I hate that. Fear and anxiety are not something the people of God should be walking in.
Beyond that, people seem to be angry and impatient with one another.
As I was praying, the Lord spoke to me and said, “Guard your heart – for everything flows from it.” He went on to say, “Don’t allow impatience, anger, division or any of those things to get into your heart, once they are in, it is hard to get them out…guard your heart.”
The Passion translation says our heart affects all that we are.
Those things we allow to get into our heart affects us, and everything that pertains to us.
To keep our heart means to guard, watch over, guard from dangers, set a blockade or a watchman over it.
God does not take lightly what we allow in our heart. The choice is entirely up to us.
I have said it before and it bears repeating, we cannot spend our entire day listening to the news and expect to have good things in our heart. It just won’t happen. Our heart is full of what we listen to and what we choose to hang around.
It is nearly impossible to hang around a negative person day after day and keep a positive attitude. For this reason, I limit my time with negative people. And if I must be around a negative person…I make sure I spend extra time with God as soon as I am alone. Why? Because I am diligent to keep watch over my heart.
I have learned the hard lesson that it is much easier to keep things out of our heart to begin with than it is to remove something from our heart once it is in it.
My friends, don’t allow this world to change your heart. Don’t allow the garbage that comes through news media or negative, angry people to infiltrate your heart. Keep your heart with all diligence. It will affect everything that concerns you. Its vital we keep our heart clean before the Lord, that is the only time His blessings can flow freely. Keep a close watch, a guard, a boundary around your heart at all times. And let life flow.
