“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” ~Proverbs 4:23
Science has proven that whole foods, reduced sodium, regular exercise and sleep are extremely important in maintaining a healthy heart. When we are consistent in the food, exercise and sleep department, we tend to feel pretty good. Our physical body begins to thrive when we consistently give it the care and attention it requires. There is a clear and direct correlation between a healthy lifestyle and a healthy heart. But what about the condition of our spiritual hearts? Are we paying attention to what’s happening in our hearts? When God peers into our hearts, what does He see? “For the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” ~1 Samuel 16:7
The Hebrew word for heart in Proverbs 4:23 is transliterated in English as “Leb”. “Leb” describes the inner man, the mind, the will, the heart. “Leb” occurs 593 times in the Old Testament, so it’s obviously extremely important to God. Why is the heart so important? In the Tony Evans Bible Commentary, Dr. Tony Evans states the heart is important because it is the source of life. He continues by stating, “Jesus even said good and evil are produced from what is “stored up in” it (see Luke 6:45), so nothing in your life deserves more constant care and attention than your heart. Whatever is stored up inside it will dictate what you speak (4:24), what you look at (4:25) and where your feet take you (4:26-27). Keep your heart under lock and key.“
If we believe wrong in our hearts, if we allow unforgiveness, bitterness, shame, anger or regret to overwhelm our hearts, our minds tend to follow and so do our actions. Wrong thinking or wrong believing leads us to make decisions that create – or contribute to – difficult and challenging situations, circumstances and seemingly unending cycles of dysfunction. Of course, this is not how we guard our hearts. When we fail to guard our hearts, the devil adds fuel to the fire by keeping us so distracted with what’s going on in another person’s heart that we completely neglect our own. If we are honest, there are times we welcome the distraction because we just aren’t ready to face what’s going on in our own hearts. So, we often fall prey to distraction and denial. In John 8:32 Jesus says, “you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.” ” The Passion Translation (TPT) of John 8:32 is a beautiful translation of this verse, “For if you embrace the truth, it will release true freedom into your lives.” If the truth releases freedom, doesn’t that mean that lies keep us imprisoned? Wherever there’s bondage or oppression in our lives, I believe there are lies in our hearts that have not been exposed to the truth and the light of God’s Word. These heart issues (known and unknown) are often at the root of so many of our problems.
So, what are we to do? How do we guard our hearts? Learning, believing and obeying God’s Word is key to guarding our hearts. However, we cannot accomplish this without the aid of the Holy Spirit. We simply cannot successfully guard our hearts apart from Him. Psalm 139:23-24 says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” We have the power of choice. We can choose to invite the Holy Spirit to lead us on a journey in God’s Word that will free our hearts from the lies, from the evil, destructive things at the root of so much pain in our lives. We need Him and He desperately desires to help us to know true freedom. When we invite the Holy Spirit to search our hearts, He will gradually reveal lies that are supporting our wrong thinking and polluting our hearts. He will faithfully partner with us, leading us to the truth in God’s Word as we yield and surrender to His divine guidance and authority. But first we must be willing. God does not push us, He leads us. Are we willing to be led? Are we willing to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into deeper healing? I pray we are because God is always after our hearts. He desires that we trust Him with everything that’s in our hearts. It doesn’t matter what we’ve got stored up in there, God wants it all. And in exchange, God is faithful to give us beauty for our ashes and to free us wherever we are bound. “Trust only in God every moment! Tell Him all your troubles and pour out your heart-longings to Him. Believe me when I tell you – He will help you!” ~Psalm 62:8-9 (TPT)
Abba Father, I love you so much. You are such a good, good Father. Thank you for first loving me. Thank you for Your goodness and mercy that follows me wherever I go. Father, right now I humbly submit my heart to You. I invite Your Holy Spirit to examine my heart and show me where I’m believing things that simply are not true. Father, I desire to be free from any lies that are embedded in my heart. These lies have created strongholds in my heart that only your power can pull down. I submit to the Lordship of Your Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, have Your way. I want to see the truth. I want to be free in my heart. Show me the way. Help me Holy Spirit. I pray this in faith, in the marvelous name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
God Is Here 