We’re continuing in our 31 Day Challenge today (it’s day 4 and not too late to join). I couldn’t allow this day to go by without commenting on Proverbs 4:23 which says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
Now when the scripture speaks of the heart, it’s speaking of your thought life, the core of your soul where your thoughts and imaginations operate. The heart is sort of this “master-control” of the life.
You will…
love
parent
lead
conduct relationships
manage money
react to people
speak
…out of your heart.
And Proverbs is reminding us to guard it. Guard what comes in and what comes out. Because all of life originates from this core. The problem is most of us grew up in religious circles that never trained us to do that. We were just taught behavioral modification.
Jesus talked about this in Luke 6 when he said…
No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes or grapes from briars.. (Luke 6:43)
What Jesus is getting at here is what some have called “The Law of the Tree,” which is just this: What’s going on inside the tree determines what gets produced outside the tree.
This is where there was a major conflict between Jesus and a lot of religious leaders in His day who focused mostly on behavioral modification—doing right things. Jesus’ brilliant insight is: The whole focus should be on the inside of the tree. His goal therefore was to help transform the inside of the tree (the heart).
I believe it was Socrates who said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” So maybe the most important thing we could do at the beginning of this new decade is to examine the “wellspring” of life.
Is the seductive, deceptive lure of some sin such as anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, and sexual immorality, creeping into your heart?
Is there anyone you’ve been withholding forgiveness from?
Do you secretly celebrate the failures of people around you?
Have any secrets that you’re working hard to keep from some of your closest friends?
I’m praying God will teach you and me both to guard our hearts because the desire of Jesus is to transform our hearts, not just edit our behavior.
How are you guarding your heart these days?
(CLICK HERE to read what others are saying about Day 4 of the 31 Day Challenge)
That verse stood out to me as well…
The other thing that is surprising me is that I am having a difficult time connecting with the Proverbs. (I know this is the word of God I am talking about. I am terrible. But honest. Do I get points for honest?) Maybe it is the poetic style? The proverbs feel kind of fluffy, and I am having to dig for nuggets of wisdom that I can really digest.
Maybe there is a lesson there? You think?
Any advice?
.-= Lindsey Nobles´s last blog ..Fear of Flying =-.
Oh…and I am praying about it.
.-= Lindsey Nobles´s last blog ..Fear of Flying =-.
With all respect to the Proverbs, I think you’ll find that a lot of the practical wisdom really picks up over the next couple chapters. The first few are bit more “fluffy” as they set up the idea of wisdom.
Hang in there.
Hanging in…
.-= Lindsey Nobles´s last blog ..Fear of Flying =-.
Maybe you’re just terrible?
kidding, kidding!!
I feel the same way. Something that helps me is switching between different translations. Sometimes the areas that seem fluffy or I gloss over in one translation just plain make more sense or speak to me differently in another. And then vice versa for another verse later.
.-= Danny Bixby´s last blog ..Come Back Tomorrow, And Then I’ll Help You =-.
Verse 23 really speaks to me also – Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. I truly need to mindful of this verse at the start of each day!
@lnobles I am with you girl! I try and read a proverb and a psalm a day =)I always hear pastors quoting proverbs and they make good since but me reading them at times seems like greek:) I know its going to be awesome for you guys at Crosspoint! You are impacting many! Press on!
Holly=)
.-= Holly Myers´s last blog ..sweet release… =-.
Guarding your heart seems to be the hardest part of being a growing Christ follower. I want the sinful thoughts to leavea and never come back and, simply put, it doesn’t happen that way. I have to make sure I am in HIS word and in constant communication with HIM or my mind is not protected…thanks for the challenge
.-= Jay´s last blog ..Does He Really? Wow! =-.
I’ve always loved this verse… but recently with the financial issues we’ve faced, a new view of it came to light for me.
Granted, through these struggles, my shopping “addiction” has been drastically controlled and virtually squashed completely… but what that has done has shown me just how much I’ve enjoyed shopping and how much a part of my life it was. With a background in the fashion industry, I have a passion for beautiful clothing and really enjoy wearing them, helping others enjoy them, etc. I left the fashion industry because my vanity took over my heart – and I despised the person I was becoming…this was 15+ years ago.
But what I’ve discovered in the past couple months – related to this verse, is just how much I am still impacted by a magazine or retail store that showcases beautiful (and costly) fashion.
So for me today, guarding my heart means I must guard myself from “window shopping” until the feeling of needing those things is no longer prevalent in my life… to where I can appreciate the beautiful clothing that man has the talent to create, but to FOCUS on the beauty that God gave us.
Great application Paula!
I think this opens us to the heart of the Proverbs’ writer. Guarding the heart is not an exercise in vigilance, because we will assuredly fail to drive out evil and our failure occasions despondency that welcomes the adversary. Guarding the heart is as you suggest a matter of re-rooting and re-routing our thoughts and preoccupations in the already present and available gifts of God incarnate as Jesus and moving as the Spirit.
.-= Michael Dixon´s last blog ..Whose Wife Will She Be? =-.
I commented on the 31 Day website so won’t repost here because as per my normal commenting form it was a little too wordy… I will just say that I’ve been singing all morning : )
.-= joyce´s last blog ..Happy 101 =-.
I’m reading a lot about Luther’s views on Saint and Sinner — How we remain both simultaneously. One theme I see continually is that we are to maintain a pursuit of eliminating all sin within us. Guarding your heart is a similar means of eliminating sin. We can celebrate the fact that Christ and his life and death has fully defeated sin forever; but we must still be at work to fight the battles within to “clean house” and thus, “guard your heart.”
Question: Is it possible to continually let the “weeds” grow where the “wheat” should? Meaning. Lots of churches fail to talk about the elimination of sin. While I don’t want to be at a church that hammers home this idea continually, it is an important message, isn’t it? What do you think?
.-= John Alexander´s last blog ..Gifts to God in the New Year =-.
Absolutely John. While I know completely eliminating sin from my life is not going to happen I make it a goal to have Christ formed in me.
So focusing more on the Christ formed in you rather than elimination of sin?
I was just asking as a question, because I wrestle with that issue a lot…
.-= John Alexander´s last blog ..Up in the Air: A Life Lived Without Parentheses =-.
I think it’s both and John. As Christ is formed in you sin begins to be eliminated and your heart is transformed. I don’t think you eliminate sin by focusing on eliminating sin.
John 15:5 says, “I am the vine, and you are the branches. If any remain in me and I remain in them, they produce much fruit. But without me they can do nothing.”
My job is to remain in Him. It’s then His power in me that allows me to begin eliminating sin.
Great subject!
okay…I don’t actually see my comment there so my comment here makes no sense…maybe I shouldn’t be operating a computer.
Guarding my heart also stood out to me and I mentioned that the song we sang with our children kept playing over and over in my head as I read this chapter…’Oh be careful little tongue what you say, Oh be careful little feet where you go…
here’s a more modern version but I do love the simplicity of the children’s version of this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oEJHmFBZgs
.-= joyce´s last blog ..Happy 101 =-.
Joining CrossPoint from Conway, AR in the Proverbs challenge. Tthat is the first verse of the ones that I underlined this morning. God has shown me recently the urgency of keeping my heart guarded!
.-= Alison´s last blog ..Christmas Day in Photos =-.
Thanks for joining us Alison!
Guarding my heart. Ouch, that is a hard, hard thing. Especially for this Type A, former Pastor’s Kid.
I find my heart getting jaded. The Wellspring of Life finds it difficult to bubble from a jaded heart. So I need to work more on that.
.-= Tony York´s last blog ..Why I struggle with the “One Month to Live” Approach =-.
On that matter, Proverbs 3 spoke to me:
Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Sometimes it is difficult to deliver truth in kindness.
.-= Tony York´s last blog ..Why I struggle with the “One Month to Live” Approach =-.
The only person I know who balanced truth and grace perfectly was Jesus. The rest of us fall on one side or the other.
See how you are … you just did both with me.
.-= Tony York´s last blog ..Why I struggle with the “One Month to Live” Approach =-.
Yes, participating in events like this are excellent for guarding hearts. I know for me one of the most effective ways to guard my heart is to surround myself with amazing influences. Bad company corrupts good habits… but it also works the other way around. It’s interesting (and useful) to note that the friends we keep company with are more influential than even our own habits.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
.-= bondChristian´s last blog ..Marketing to serve others =-.
“Guard your heart”…this is the verse that my mom quoted in the letter she wrote in the cover of my first Bible. Guarding and protecting what flows from my heart and what I allow into my heart has been an ongoing process of pruning and watching.
The one moment I am not alert is when the little things try to seep in and surround it.
It was also important for me to understand that the core of our heart…is good. Something worth value. Something worth protecting. The things of our heart are important to God.
Clicking over to check out the 31 day challenge. Sounds interesting.
Happy New Year…from Maryland
When are you gonna plant a church here?
I’m waiting…
{remember we have a two story Target!!}
.-= jessica´s last blog ..The Sword =-.
It’s too cold up there Jessica.
I read yesrterday’s and today’s readings with Hayden this morning and it was even more special to hear him ask questions about the meaning of the words. I realized how much I pray these things over him every day. Very powerful to sit down and read it together.
That is so cool Eliza. I think this is great to do with your kids!
“Is there anyone you’ve been withholding forgiveness from?”
Yes
“Have any secrets that you’re working hard to keep from some of your closest friends?”
Yes.
I guess I have work to do there too.
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..Finding Normal =-.
I appreciate your invitation to join CP on this journey. I’ve really enjoyed it. I too connected with verse 23 and loved the NLT version “Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” Reading through chapters 3 and 4 have helped me focus on what I am praying for these days and HOW I’m praying for it. I’m taking verse 25 as my verse for the day: “Look straight ahead and fix your eyes on what lies before you.” I’m trying not to focus on the past, on my hurt, on my fear, but on what God is calling me to do today.
.-= Jan Owen´s last blog ..Good-Bye 43! =-.
This has been my favorite day so far. WOW-you wrote a sentence that spoke right to my heart. Thanks, Pete for the challenge to keep us on track.
Oh, I have to guard my heart in so many ways because for too many years I left it more wide open than the St. Louis Rams’ secondary this season. I know some days it can seem almost impossible for me to guard it completely from the onslaught of visual images on TV, internet, newspapers, blogs…reading things on blogs or stories that tempt me to rejoice the “come uppance” of others.
For too long my heart’s wellspring has been spewing forth manure. It’s hard to clean the flow and many times it seems like it’s almost there…only to run brown again.
.-= Jason´s last blog ..31 Days in Proverbs Day 4: It IS your life =-.
Pete – I think you hit on it when you mentioned behavior modification. I was raised to act right, do right and I would be right. I always thought if I acted good that would make me good. I had it all backwards.
I’m not good, but the God I serve is good. I’m not right, but in God I am righteous.
It’s what is happening within that dictates what goes out. So instead of focusing on being ‘good’ and doing ‘right’ I’m turning my heart toward following the Jesus I love.
Guard my heart — it’s a precious picture of a heart dedicated to the Lord.
.-= Mary´s last blog ..A New Thing =-.
You say it beautifully.
.-= Tony York´s last blog ..Why I struggle with the “One Month to Live” Approach =-.
I was brought up this way too, and wound up rebelling as a late teen. So nice to be able to have balance now, and I pray for the wisdom to teach my kids in such a way that they understand the importance of their inner lives.
.-= Michelle George´s last blog ..Happy Anniversary Babe! =-.
Well said Mary!
Proverbs 4:23-27 is a life passage for me. I am treating my heart like a garden that needs to be de-weeded, lol. Impatience and misplaced focus are two weeds that God has pointed out to me. I’m trying to see the idea of “guarding” not so much as a long list of “don’t do these things and everything will be otay” but rather that singleminded “one thing, one focus” mentality that locks into God and nothing else. When I am focused on Him, life just goes down better.
.-= missional girl´s last blog ..Something About…Joseph? =-.
The way I’m guarding my heart is by constantly praying for it. In despair over the incongruent nature of my life and my beliefs, I tried for a long time to “act right.” Now, I realize that’s putting the cart before the horse. Christ said to His disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” It’s love first, then the appropriate actions are a natural result. So, I’m praying constantly for God make my heart like His, so that I would naturally start acting like His Son.
.-= Vanity of Vanities´s last blog ..Revelatory Reflections …from my journal =-.
I find it a constant struggle to guard my heart. It is SO necessary, but it’s one of those things that doesn’t *yell* until it has been neglected for far too long. Thanks for the reminder!
My people perish for lack of knowledge.
The church is largely irrelevant because it’s leaders are unaware of the times.
I love this verse and I love your question, Pete. Sometimes I think it takes an army to guard against something really volatile… and what’s more volatile than the human heart! Over and over again I am reminded that God created us to live in community with others. To love with them, cry with them, share joys and pains with them. And to guard against the enemy of our hearts with them.
I guard my heart by revealing it to those close to me. Not everyone of course but my husband, close friends, small group, etc. Often they can detect my heart problems before I can IF we are all being real with each other.
Anyway, all that to say I think we guard our hearts best when we guard them together.
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..Prayer Request =-.
Dude, I totally needed this. Another heart check . . .
.-= @KerryBural´s last blog ..Ministry Branding DNA Convergence—Core Values, Competencies and Passions =-.
I have a tendancy to guard my heart a little bit too much.
Is that really possible, Amy? What do you mean by too much?
Good stuff Pastor Pete. I loved the statement that most of us were only taught behavior modification; such a true statement. Thanks so much for sharing your insights
When Steph and I first started dating, we decided that Prov. 4:23 would be the verse we would build our relationship on. As difficult as it is to do sometimes, it is the thing that always rights our ship. When one or both of our hearts go ungarded, we fail to honor our marriage vows, so that’s a great motivator. Thanks for the challenge, Pete.
And give Blake a big hug from the Brannon family!
.-= Rob´s last blog ..AND I QUOTE… =-.
That’s some pretty heavy stuff you’ve got there, Pete. It’s amazing how many people live their lives without actually living it, or worse, live it with the inability to just forgive and forget. I hope that we all can get to the point where we guard our hearts and live our lives to the fullest.
i’ve often marinated over this verse in relation to how close i let people get to me (or something like that). maybe it’s my trust issues, or my past hurts. i still think there’s a nugget in there for me somewhere about how to keep my heart guarded in a Godly way but not in a way that builds walls that keeps others out…
.-= alece´s last blog ..risky business =-.
Guarding our heart is so essential yet so difficult at times. This world we live in is constantly attacking things like purity and integrity. We live in a church age where compromise is so acceptable. As soon as you turn on the TV the fight is on. I was watching the Lakers game last night, have you seen the latest Carl’s Jr. commercial. The only way I could describe it is soft porn. Do we really need soft porn to sell a new salad. To guard my heart I had to change the channel.
Job 31:1 (NIV) “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.
.-= Bill Foote (FooteNotes)´s last blog ..Staying out of THAT room =-.
I’ll never tell.
Thanks for having me. It was such a treat. Which you reminded me…. I need to post Nashville (Part II) on my blog now. And now I also have Nashville (Part III) idea, in which you emailed me about that we can do at the same time.
Pete, I got your message and yes, I will absolutely update my b-roll. Jenni’s already on it! Thanks again for the 31 Days challenge. It is AWESOME!!
.-= missional girl´s last blog ..Something About…Joseph? =-.
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