In the past couple of sessions we learned about the parable of the sower and the action we must take to prepare our soil and invest in the effort of maintaining our walk, lifestyle and integrity. Part of that action has to deal with our hearts.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. – Proverbs 4:23 NIV
The scriptures have a lot to say about the condition of our hearts. I have heard many say God knows my heart. Or I have a heart for the lost. But how does God view certain aspects of our heart? The Message bible translation says it this way:
Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts. – Proverbs 4:23 MSG
Proverb 15:15 says a miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song.
Do you remember a time when you had a miserable or cheerful heart? How did it effect you?
Due to living in a world of sin, our heart is continually under attack. Satan is the god of this world.
the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. – 2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV
Satan has control of the world system. When Jesus was led into a mountain to pray Satan tried to tempt him with the kingdoms of the world.
8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” – Matthew 4:8-9 ESV
How has Satan tempted you with an alternative?
Let’s look at scriptural definition of the heart. The heart could often be translated” mind”. Since the Hebrews had no separate word for “mind” the word heart often served to represent the seat of the intellect. Therefore, the heart is the seat of intellect, emotion, will, and moral consciousness. It is the personality which has that extra ordinary ability to perceive itself. The key to the whole man is his mind. Whatever captures the mind captures the man.
Yet after conversion one of the characteristics of Christians is that we have the law of God written in our hearts…
They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) – Romans 2:15 NIV
You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. – 2 Corinthians 3:3 NIV
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ – Matthew 22:37 NIV
So how can we guard our hearts?
Take these practices today and put them into action this week. Be attentive to the variety of exposure of your heart in your world. Be wise in what you let get into your mind. Remember: You cannot have a positive life when you have a negative mind.