Guarding My Heart
"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." Proverbs 4:23
What is a guarded heart?
Is it a heart wrapped by a coat of armor and surrounded by armed guards who shout, “Halt! Who goes there,” when someone approaches?
Or, does it command my heart to, "Man your battle stations," whenever anyone comes near?
Just what does a guarded heart look like?
The Book of Malachi (Malachi 2:15-16) talks about guarding our hearts in the marriage relationship and the importance of being loyal to one another. It is the idea of being single-minded in the union.
As I’ve been praying and asking God to refine and purify my life, His voice whispers gently to me each morning to guard my heart. And I ask Him, “How?” I know that in His Word it tells me God doesn’t want me to have a stone heart. He wants me to have a heart of flesh—a heart that feels deeply. This kind of heart experiences the pinnacle of joy, such that there are no words. And, it also experiences pain so deep it is unfathomable (Luke 22:44).
If we dissect our Proverb using the Interlinear Bible, we find that the word for your heart (לִבֶּ֑ךָ in Hebrew; transliteration, lib·be·ḵā) refers to the soul of a man: his mind, will, emotions, character, and passions; his lean-to, his bent, including his conscience. It is used 45 times in the Holy Bible. The Hebrew for guard (נְצֹ֣ר; transliteration, nə·ṣōr) is used 4 times in the Holy Bible, and it means to preserve, to keep close, to keep secret, blockaded.
That's pretty strong protection, don't you think?
The Hebrew words interpreted here as above all else or with all diligence come from Hebrew words (transliterated mik·kāl and miš·mār) suggesting totality in the act of guarding.
So, the battalion of soldiers--is it necessary? Every bit and then some, I’d say! But wait. When I give my heart to Jesus for safekeeping, He becomes the Guard. The Holy Bible says in Philippians 4:7, “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
. . . as you live in Christ Jesus.
Goodnight, Runners.
The Book of Malachi (Malachi 2:15-16) talks about guarding our hearts in the marriage relationship and the importance of being loyal to one another. It is the idea of being single-minded in the union.
As I’ve been praying and asking God to refine and purify my life, His voice whispers gently to me each morning to guard my heart. And I ask Him, “How?” I know that in His Word it tells me God doesn’t want me to have a stone heart. He wants me to have a heart of flesh—a heart that feels deeply. This kind of heart experiences the pinnacle of joy, such that there are no words. And, it also experiences pain so deep it is unfathomable (Luke 22:44).
If we dissect our Proverb using the Interlinear Bible, we find that the word for your heart (לִבֶּ֑ךָ in Hebrew; transliteration, lib·be·ḵā) refers to the soul of a man: his mind, will, emotions, character, and passions; his lean-to, his bent, including his conscience. It is used 45 times in the Holy Bible. The Hebrew for guard (נְצֹ֣ר; transliteration, nə·ṣōr) is used 4 times in the Holy Bible, and it means to preserve, to keep close, to keep secret, blockaded.
That's pretty strong protection, don't you think?
The Hebrew words interpreted here as above all else or with all diligence come from Hebrew words (transliterated mik·kāl and miš·mār) suggesting totality in the act of guarding.
. . . as you live in Christ Jesus.
Goodnight, Runners.
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