“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).
Walk into a supermarket anywhere, and you might see shoppers diligently reading the ingredients on food labels and carefully selecting low-sugar, low-fat, high-fiber products. Americans have been warned to care for their physical hearts by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
The physical heart is the vital source at the center of our being. The spiritual heart, on the other hand, is the innermost part of the mind. Out of it flow the issues of life—joy, sadness, love, hate, and many other emotions, as well as words, thoughts, and actions.
“Keep” in Proverbs 4:23 means to “keep control of and to keep possession of, to look after.” If we don’t “keep” our spiritual hearts, we can have thoughts, words, emotions, and actions that are not pure or helpful to us. We can focus on something so much that it reaches our innermost minds (our hearts), and we find ourselves not sending out good words, good emotions, or good actions. When we take in and listen to God and His Word, we are building a storehouse of good things, which will come out of us.
Philippians 4:7–8 tell us, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 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.”
When we daily read some of God’s Word, it wonderfully guards and leads our hearts into the spiritual health of a clean heart and right spirit, as David asked for in Psalm 51:10.
My response:
» Have I learned some of God’s Word today to guard my heart against sin?
» Will I choose to read some of my Bible each day from now on?