Protect your family, guard your heart!

Proverbs 4:23 warns you to guard your heart:

 

Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.

 

In other words the ideas, the images, the influences you allow to flow into your heart become the substance of what flows out of your heart. 

 

Do you guard what flows into your heart? Are there things that are more exciting to you than the person of Christ? Are you enticed by anger? Do you long for what you do not have? Are you plagued by bitter thoughts, impure thoughts? Are you conscious of the importance of protecting your heart from a godless, deceptive culture and bitter disappointments?

 

Don’t miss this reality! Whatever you let into your heart will flow directly into the lives of those you love.  If you guard your heart you guard those whom you love. If your heart is not guarded then you directly expose those closest to you to the evil attacks of the enemy. 

 

Psalm 19 says God’s words will bring joy to your heart. Is that true for you?

 

If you truly love those in your family, your desire must be focused on the protection of your heart. If you are frequently saddened by things that you say and thoughts that you have, these are signs of an unprotected heart. 

 

Psalm 19 speaks of the wonder of God displayed in creation and the beauty of God’s word displayed in your heart.  Heed the wisdom of God’s Spirit.  Guard your heart so that your prayer may be the same as David’s:

 

May the words of my mouth
    and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer

Psalm 19:14

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