Proverbs 4:23 (HCSB)
Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.
The word “heart” refers to the main organ that is the lifeline of health and life, it is the centre of the physical, mental, and spiritual life of every living organism and the focus of all the vital functions of the body, including intellectual and spiritual life. The heart and the intellect are intricately connected, the heart is the seat of human intelligence according to Matthew 13:15.
The heart is the custodian of our thoughts, emotions and imaginations and all that is kept within it is eventually exhibited in any form because the heart is the depository of all wisdom and the source of whatever affects life and character stored within it, according to Matthew 12:35, we should therefore guide it carefully, desperately and aggressively to avoid it ruling us negatively.
The bible tells us of two things that displease the Lord, wickedness, and evil imaginations or intentions described in Genesis 6:5-8, it is even more true now than in Noah’s day.
Will the Lord find a right heart in you as He did with Noah?
We must intentionally guard our heart and keep it right by preserving it from every vice that can be destructive to life, health, and godliness.
Ecclesiastics 10:2 marks the right hand as the place of wisdom and synonymous with the right heart-most people are right-handed and mostly depend on it for everything-so too should we cultivate the right heart and depend on it to guide us aright but only if we’ve allowed the Spirit of God to transform our hearts.
The condition of your heart is extremely important when it comes to salvation, your daily spiritual walk with the Lord. The heart is mentioned almost 1000 times in the scriptures, which should give us a clue of how important its function is to humanity.
Luke 6:45 TPT says. People are known in this same way. Out of the virtue stored in their hearts, good and upright people will produce good fruit. But out of the evil hidden in their hearts, evil ones will produce what is evil. For the overflow of what has been stored in your heart will be seen by your fruit and will be heard in your words.
Our lives depend on our hearts, we think thought before they become, you are what you say! William Law quotes: “we must alter our lives in order to alter our hearts, for it is impossible to live one way and pray another.” No effective change can occur in one’s life without a change of heart and Proverbs 27:19 tells us that our hearts mirror or reflect us.
We must never neglect to tend our heart through the word of God and the Holy Spirit because an untended heart will soon be overrun with the chaos and poisons of life that leads to death- Proverbs 16:25.
When we come to Christ, we receive a new heart, and we are commanded to guard that heart and not be bound by the snares of sin. We can’t grow in holiness unless we guard our hearts and live in obedience to God.
What is in your heart? Good or bad? Right or wrong? Life or death? It’s up to you to have the right heart for the right life.
Shalom