Heart Check (Part 2)
Proverbs 4:23
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Is it possible to guide and guard our thoughts? Can we decide on what goes in and stays in our heart? Absolutely yes! We can decide or determine what enters and stays in our hearts.
Our passage today Proverbs 4:23 says 'Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life'. 'Keep your heart with all diligence' denotes responsibility. Which means we have a responsibility to keep our hearts. We have a say on what goes in and stays, so to say. The passage goes on to tell us the reason why we should keep our hearts with all diligence and utmost care. Because out of the heart comes issues of life. Incredible! Everything comes from the heart...all issues of life.
Someone may ask, but how? How can I keep my heart? How can I determine what goes into my heart? Philippians 4:8 tells us exactly how. 'Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things'. Philippians 4:8 tells us exactly what to think on, which ensures we have the right things stored in our heart....'good treasures of the heart' according to Matthew 12:35
Hence, meditating on God's word becomes imperative for us as Christians. When we meditate on the word of the Lord, our hearts are filled with things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report. See what the Psalmist says in Psalms 12:6 'The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times'. Notice the expression 'pure words', 'purified words'. Also, in Psalms 19:7-9, the Psalmist says 'The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:
the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether'.
Observe the expressions, 'perfect' 'sure' 'right' 'pure' 'clean' 'true' 'righteous'. Amazing indeed. Spending time thinking on God's words can ensure we have good treasure in our heart.
But the key is that we need to find pleasure in meditating on the word of God like the Psalmist in Psalms 1:2 'But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night'. We need to let the Word of God into our hearts so we have the right stuff stored in. Joshua 1:8 further buttresses this; 'This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success'. We can have treasures of good stuff in our hearts, when we feed on the word of God.
The Psalmist then prayed in Psalms 19:14 'Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer'. The Psalmist prayed that his thoughts would be acceptable unto the Lord. This should be our heart desire as children of God, to please the Lord in our thoughts and we have a responsibility to guard our hearts. We can decide on what enters our heart.
Have a wonderful week filling your heart with good treasures.
God bless you.
