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Watch Over Your Heart
Watch Over Your Heart
Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23)
Watching over our heart means we must be alert, guarding against allowing it to become corrupted by thoughts and desires that have the power to harm us both physically and spiritually. What is the heart over which we are to watch with diligence? Inspired men of old tell us that it is the thinking part of man. Genesis 6:5 we read that God saw that every intent of the thoughts of man’s heart was evil. Hebrews 4:1, the writer tells us that the word of God is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. It is imperative we understand that the thoughts and intentions of our heart are founded on the desires that reside within our heart. What are the desires of our heart is a question that deserves serious consideration on our part because those desires will determine our conduct each waking moment of our life. What we say, do and think will spring forth from those desires (Matthew 12:33-37, Matthew 15:18-19, Luke 6:45, Matthew 5:8).
The desires of our heart will also be a determining factor in the zeal and enthusiasm we have for loving and serving the Lord as we walk this pathway of life. Do the desires of our heart cause us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:29-30)? Are those desires leading us to seek things above, to set our mind on things above not things on earth (Colossians 3:1-2, Matthew 6:19-21)? Do our desires allow us to dwell on things true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8)? Are we an example of a child of God in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity because of the desires that dwell in our heart (1 Timothy 4:12)?
If we are to successfully watch over our heart, we must do it through prayer, hearing and heeding God’s word, trusting and committing our lives to Him (1 Thess. 5:17, Phil. 4:6-7. James 4:7-10). Surrendering completely to God’s will is like waving a white flag saying, God I surrender all to you! We must let his word mold our thoughts and intentions, fill our heart and guide us every step of the way on our earthly journey. When the desires of our heart are right in the sight of God, we will have the peace of God that surpasses all comprehension reigning in our heart (Philippians 4:7-9, John 14;27, Romans 8:6, Colossians 3:15).
Following the advice of David found in Psalms 37:3-7 is a great plan that will be of tremendous help as we strive to keep watch over our heart, “Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. . .”
Today I know that the eternal well-being of our souls depends in large part on the desires that dwell in our hearts. Someday, more than anything in this world, I want to fly away to that home on God’s celestial shore (John 14:1-3, 2 Cor. 5:1) and live forever in that land where joys shall never end. I know that for that to happen it all depends on it being well with my soul on the day the sun sets on my earthly journey. I also know that it will be well with my soul if I watch over my heart with diligence, making sure that the desires are such that please, honor and glorify God. And so it is with you also!
Charles Hicks, Gallatin Tennessee
