CHOOSE WHERE YOU DIRECT YOUR HEART

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23

Guard your heart is a common phrase in many Christian circles. You’ve likely heard it used a few times and maybe even said it yourself. But do you know what guarding your heart means?

I suspect while most Christians likely have an idea of what it means to guard your heart, they don’t know exactly how to do it. What are the practicalities of “guarding your heart?” And how is this 2,000-year-old wisdom relevant to us in 2023? 

Our hearts are precious; they are the essence of who we are, the core of our being; they hold our thoughts, feelings, desires, and will. Hence why Solomon says “above all else.” It should be a top priority. We don’t guard worthless things. The iPhone is pretty expensive and has become a necessary communication tool. Because of those two things, we tend to take excellent care of it: we handle it carefully even though it has a screen cover and a protective case that can be dropped off the highest building in the world. We never put it in a shallow pocket, take it out, and leave it on the table for lunch. It is too valuable to lose. And while it is pretty cool technology, that’s all it is.  The heart is so much more important.  And we are in a daily battle to protect it. 

Scripture tells us to guard our heart because it is the source of our life. It is the essence of who you are. It is your authentic self—the core of your being. It is where all your dreams, desires, and passions live. It is that part of you that connects with God and other people. Out of the heart come all our motives, desires, and motivations. We are to barricade our heart against anything or anyone else that seeks to claim it because our heart belongs to God. Only God has the right to lead, guide, and instruct our hearts. That is why we must safeguard it. We must diligently and consciously protect it from invasions other than God.

The word “guard” is often a military term. It means to protect, maintain, take care of, and shield. The enemy is always at work trying to attack our hearts (Ephesians 6:10-12). They can do this in many ways and should never be underestimated. Though we have Christ’s victory, the enemy will always threaten our earthly lives. Remember, he comes only to steal, kill and destroy.  

As Christ followers, we must intentionally guard our hearts against anything contrary to scripture. Instead, we must focus on what enables us to be more like Jesus.

Guard your heart with prayer, solitude, fasting, scripture memorization, and learning to sharpen your ability to draw closer to God. These will help you guard your heart because you will spend your energy on Him. Remember, as your heart goes, so does your life.

Discussion Question:

1. Why is it so important to guard your heart? Why is it important that we address any issues at the source rather than downstream?
2. Read Matthew 22:37-38: What is the first and greatest commandment concerning the heart?
3. Read Luke 21:34 and Deuteronomy 11:16: What are at least two dangers concerning our hearts?