Guard Your Heart, part 1

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” 

(Proverbs 4:23)

One of the most beloved, and often quoted bible verses today is Psalm 37:4,

"Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."

I mean, hey, God does want us to be happy, right? He's not some cosmic killjoy, seeking to deprive us of a happy life. Jesus did say after all that He came to give us life, and life to the full. (See John 10:10)

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

So if God is supposed to give us the desires our heart, why would He put a warning to, above all else, guard it?

For starters, the heart is fickle.

The heart wants what the heart wants. The world tells us to "follow your heart." But the heart can be deceived. It wants what it wants so desperately, it doesn't always want to listen to reason. The heart is impetuous. It is a "me monster" who is totally into instant gratification. Love at first sight.

Again, why else would God give us warnings in scripture about safeguarding our hearts?

“My son, keep my words,
And treasure my commands within you.
Keep my commands and live,
And my law as the apple of your eye.
Bind them on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And call understanding your nearest kin,
That they may keep you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words.”

(Proverbs 7:1-5)

And more dire warnings from the wisdom Proverbs:

“With her enticing speech she caused him to yield,
With her flattering lips she seduced him.
Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,
Till an arrow struck his liver.
As a bird hastens to the snare,
He did not know it would cost his life.

Now therefore, listen to me, my children;
Pay attention to the words of my mouth:
Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths;
For she has cast down many wounded,
And all who were slain by her were strong men.
Her house is the way to hell,
Descending to the chambers of death.”

(Proverbs 7:21-27)

 Examine your own desires.

What passions inflame your heart? What tempts you? What are your addictions? Cravings?

Consider the multi billion dollar Internet industries that prey on the weak, susceptible hearts and addictive personalities of men, women and children. Here in the USA, and abroad. Why is online shopping such an addiction? Why do you think so many marriages end due to adultery?

A few years ago a friend of mine wisely said,

"The heart can be deceived; let your Christ-like mind lead your heart."

Paul the Apostle wrote:

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

A mind renewed by the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, has been given godly wisdom with which to lead our heart. We are to follow Jesus—not the desires of our own hearts.

We are commanded to "test all things, hold fast what is good." (See 1 Thessalonians 5:21). Test the desires of your heart by the Word of God. People today love to say, "Well God gave us His beautiful creation for us to enjoy. That's how I worship Him."

But Jesus also said, "Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me." And John wrote, "Do not love the things of the world."

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)

Examining the desires of my own heart over the last several years, I can see how those desires can get way out of balance when I don't heed God's Word and closely guard my heart from the temptations and trappings of this world. Even the beautiful gift of God's creation can become idols to us if we're not careful. We end up worshiping the gifts God gave us more than we worship the Giver.

Going back to Psalm 37:4 about God giving us the desires of our heart, the part that often gets conveniently left out, is: "Take delight in the Lord..."  This part comes first. It qualifies the remaining part of the verse. If we truly delight ourselves in the Lord, He 'is' the desire of our heart. This is really key to understanding this passage.

If I forsake the Lord and never spend any time talking to Him, seeking Him in the Word, giving Him my whole heart, my thoughts, my obedience, and my love, where do you suppose my desires will wander off to? We tend to go looking for greener pastures and delight ourselves in all sorts of things that ultimately cannot satisfy the longings of our heart and soul. This is how Satan gets a stronghold in our hearts through addictions, adultery, and all other forms of idolatry and covetousness.

The more I spend time walking with God—delighting myself in Him and in the Father/son relationship I have with Him through Jesus Christ—my heart does not desire the things of the world the way it once did.

Don't let anything or anyone take root in your heart that could come between you and God.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.


—God is Love and Love Never Fails.