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SECURING THE HEART

Proverbs 4:23

 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

  It is our business to safeguard that which some would like to plunder. Where there is a great treasure you might consider posting a sentinel. Out of the heart are the issues of life; the information that shape our perception of the world and influence our choices. Whatever you store in your heart (the spirit or inner man) will eventually show up in your life. The heart is the center of your being and people behave according to the priorities established within them. The human body is a complex biological unit, but the spirit of man is capable of operating independent of the motions of the body. We worship God in spirit, we pray in the spirit, and we may harbor wrong intent in our spirit. (See John 4:24,

1      Corinthians 4:15, Psalm 32:2) In securing the heart there are some truths of which we should be aware:

 I-      Invaders of the heart: These are the things that may plunder your heart if you don’t safeguard it.

 i.      Restlessness or feelings of insecurity.

ii.      Discontentment; failure to give thanks.

iii.      Trying to get ahead of God’s plan instead of waiting for HIM.

iv.      Rebellion (1 Samuel 15:23) setting up yourself as your own authority. This invader will lead you to justify any activity you want to do regardless of how wicked it may be.

v.      Deceitfulness; lying to yourself. (guile)

vi.      Becoming unscrupulous or unprincipled.

vii.      Being a villain instead of a victor.

II-     Investments in the heart: These are the things that are designed to strengthen your spiritual heart.

 i.      Reflection or taking a long hard look at yourself (Psalm 139:23-24).

 ii.      Repentance which is a change of mind that leads to a change of behavior; getting back to where you never should have left.

iii.      Repair and restoration which is correcting the errors conceived in the heart. The errors conceived in the heart often lead to broken fellowship with God or broken relationships with people. (See Psalm 51:10).

 III-   Inviolate state occurs when you mature to the point that you realize that you are responsible for securing the entry points into your heart. This is done by filtering whatever you see and hear through the filter of the Word of God which is the (Holy) Spirit’s sword (Ephesians 6:17). This is how the Christian may live free of guilt. A sentinel is posted at the entry point into your heart. The powerful sentry is none other than God’s inspired Word, carefully studied and applied to multiple areas of life.

There are thousands of people just like us who could be used mightily of God, but for the problem of leaving their heart unsecured to sinister forces. Post the guard of Scripture and never relieve it of duty.