There are valid reasons to guard your heart. You see, throughout Scripture, the heart refers to the very essence of one’s being. The heart includes your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers. King Solomon said it clearly: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23, NIV). If our heart gets damaged, we are damaged. And that’s as far from ideal as possible. So what to do? How can we guard our hearts and live blessedly with God?

Yes, if we want to live a good life, we need to live it with God. He is the source of life and well-being. There are many who insist on knowing what’s best for them. But I’ve learned in my life that the best comes from the Lord. When I keep my heart tuned to Jesus and listen to what the Holy Spirit wants to tell me, I am blessed and happy like never before. Of course, these blessings are spiritual and hence they are the best kind.

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. ²² “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. ²³ But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! (Matthew 6:19-23, NLT)

Reasons to guard your heart

The eye is similar to the heart in Jewish literature. So in this passage, the eye – or the heart – is a lamp that reveals the condition of our inner life. If our eye – or our heart – is healthy, it suggests the center of our life is Jesus. And if our eye – or our heart- is unhealthy, it reveals our life is centered on hurtful, harmful, poisonous things.

So the very best thing we can do is to guard our hearts against all evil. How do we do that? By sticking to Jesus, surrendering to him daily, and filling our minds with all the good things. We need to turn away from evil things. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what those things currently are in your life. And then ask for God’s power to turn away from them. He will joyfully grant you that. You will be amazed at how good it is to be free to enjoy all God has for you. Do not miss it!

Gracious God,
You are so good to us.
Forgive us for filling our hearts with something other than you.
We know only you can satisfy us.
Show us how to guard our hearts better,
show us what needs to go so we could live in your peace.
Then empower us to do so.
Take care of our hearts, Lord.
We want to be yours now and forever.
In Jesus’ precious name,
Amen

P.S.

Dear friend, know that when your heart is right with the Lord, everything else you worry about will sort itself out. The main thing we need to get right is to keep our hearts tuned to our Lord and Savior, God will take care of the rest. So let’s do that and rest in God’s grace and peace!