Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
How do we guard our hearts? In Proverbs 4, Solomon starts with the instruction that surrounds being able to guard oneself: “Listen to instruction. PAY ATTENTION and gain understanding. Take hold of my words with all your heart. Get wisdom. Get understanding. Avoid evil ways. Give careful thought to the paths of your feet.” Verses 10 & 11 say, “Listen and accept what I say … I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.” And verse 13 says, “Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.” Proverbs 4 is full of intertwined instruction and warnings that make a big circle around God’s central command to guard one’s heart; He shows us the way.
[As a side note, the phrase PAY ATTENTION (be attentive; take heed) is found over and over in the Bible. In Exodus & Deuteronomy: “Pay attention to the Lord’s commands. Pay attention and listen to what He says. Pay attention and be careful to do all that He says.” In Job: “Pay attention and listen to everything I say.” In Psalm: “Pay attention and do not forget.” In Proverbs: “Pay attention and listen in order to gain wisdom and understanding.” In Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Hosea, Zechariah – it shows up again and again regarding paying attention to gain understanding, and what happens when we don’t pay attention. The same is true in Matthew, Mark, Luke, Hebrews and Peter.]
In Philippians God speaks to His guarding of our hearts and minds:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
When the anxious comes in, the right way through it is to praise God, talk with God, and keep giving it to Him. It is a continual process – the anxious will try to come in with each step, each thing that doesn’t go as planned, each challenge and trial. And God shows us how to get through it.
Just like Proverbs 4, Philippians 4 also has instruction that makes a big circle around Paul’s call to stand firm – by keeping Jesus Christ as our focus, rejoicing in the Lord always, giving everything to God, being intentional about what we allow to fill our minds. “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
The guarding of our hearts – the quality of our life – is affected by how well we pay attention to God, learn from Him, and keep our eyes on Him. Let us stay in His Word and not get distracted from focusing on Him!