What does it mean to “guard your heart” or “Keep your heart with all diligence”? Does it mean setting boundaries for personal growth and attaining a zen-like state? My pagan friends would want to believe that, but they are wrong.
“Keep your heart with all diligence,
Proverbs 4:23
For out of it spring the issues of life.”
This verse was slipped into my scriptural diet multiple times last night and this AM. It was not part of my reading but here we are talking about it. If the Holy Sprit guides, you follow! I will do my best to convey what I think needs to be gleaned from this today.
As kids the primary emotion we feel is love. Overtime, other emotions like anger, hate, sadness, despair creep in. We learn to guard how we enter into relationships because of the hurt and bitterness we get exposed to. Is this what God intended for us?
Love and relationships go hand in hand. We cannot be in a stable, healthy relationship bereft of love. God is Love. We are created for love. If you examine the commandments highlighted by Jesus in Matthew 22:37-40, they revolve around Love. Love God and love your neighbor.
God seeks relationships. Our Triune God is a symbol of Love and relationship. Refer to Luke 4:16-21 and see that not only is the relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit filled with love but it is filled with love for us. He sent his only son to heal the broken hearted. He wants a relationship with us!
What does this have to do with Proverbs 4:23? To love, we have to know. We are being asked to pray, spend time in scripture so that we may know God, learn to love Him. Stay tuned on Him so that we protect our little hearts from the world. I pray that your heart is soaked in God’s eternal love.
Dear God,
Thank you for loving us and wanting to have a relationship with us. May every soul You seek, know and acknowledge the love you have for us. I pray this in your Holy name, Jesus. Amen!