Guard Your Heart

The heart is such a wonderful thing.  It has the capacity to hold so many exquisite virtues…love, kindness, hope, generosity, compassion…  With the heart we praise God, “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.”  Psalm 9:1  With it we may see God, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”  Matthew 5:8  With it we may please God, “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”  Psalm 19:14  And with it we may resemble God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13; Acts 13). 

Because the heart is such a vital organ to our soul, we must watch over it carefully, meticulously.  As with many things, the heart does have the ability to turn in a different direction—the opposite of that which is good, pleasing and holy.  Indeed, Jeremiah, the prophet, counsels that, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9  This is why it is prescribed in Proverbs:  “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23   

Because of the heart’s natural propensity and proclivity to evil, we must be diligent to ask God to help us in its care:  “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  Psalm 51:10  And consider Paul’s guidance:  “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  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.”  Phillipians 4:4-7 

When our heart is aligned to the heart of God, we may, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give [us] the desires of [our] heart.”  Psalm 37:4 

–Katie Botello