Read the Word:
Proverbs 4:20-27
Meditate on the Word:
We read a couple of interesting commands in this passage in regard to the heart. First, in v. 21, we are told to keep these words and sayings in our heart. These words and sayings, of course, are what we now know as the Holy Scriptures. Psalm 119 reiterates this with the familiar, “Thy word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11, KJV). The other thing that we are told to do with our heart is to guard it (v. 23). So not only are we to store good things (God’s word) in our heart, we are to protect it from exposure to bad things (sin and temptation). We are even reminded that the heart is the “source of life (v. 23).” We would do well to only allow good things into the source of our life.
If we were to think of the heart as a spring of water in a mountain, this might help. As long as we are close to the source, only good things will be in our spring. When we move further from the source, we have opportunity to pick up more contaminants. If we follow that stream until it becomes a big river through a city, we may find all kinds of pollutants. For a while, I lived in a region where occasionally, a “hog farm spill” would render the river unusable. The source of life, the river in this case, was not being very well protected.
We should think very carefully about what we allow into our heart and what we should prevent from entering our heart. Perhaps this will change our viewing and listening habits. Perhaps it will change who we interact with on social media. Perhaps we will give up some of these things altogether, and focus on God’s word instead.
Pray the Word:
Ask our Lord to help you guard your heart today.
Leave a Reply