The freestyle “author’s choice” for daily scripture continues. Upon learning it was to be my choice the initial thought was excitement for the blank canvas then later it was “this is a serious choice and I have no idea… Lord, please give me something.” As the time grew closer to needing to write, no verses came to mind until…
While passing through airport security I overheard an officer reading an inscription on a piece of jewelry that had been left behind. It read:
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (Proverbs 4:23 NIV)
It was beautiful. The public reading of scripture aloud in Chicago O’Hare International Airport. There were not many witnesses but I heard it and the words were powerful and refreshing. At the time I was making the long journey home from a business trip and missing my family, exhausted from many long days and nights of work.
Was it God’s plan for me to hear this? Was it His desire for me to write about it to you this week? While I’m not certain, I believe regardless that the public reading of scripture invokes the supernatural, it brings God’s living word into our souls at that very moment.
The verse seems to break down nicely into two parts, giving us instruction and the reason for the instruction:
- Guard your heart above all else, (Proverbs 4:23a)
What does it mean to “guard our hearts”? Some thoughts, starting with keeping our hearts fed with daily prayer and studying of scripture.
- In the subsequent verses we are given additional examples/instruction that corresponds to guarding our heart which I’ve paraphrased:
- Avoiding perverse talk (Proverbs 4:24)
- Our eyes fixed clearly on the goal – Look straight ahead (Proverbs 4:25) Turning our hearts toward our creator God and savior Jesus Christ, who he is and what he has done for us.
- Staying on a safe path (Proverbs 4:26) – Resisting temptation; fleeing from sin.
- Yielding to God’s will especially in times of prosperity, whether personal, health financial or just life in general. When everything is going great, it becomes easier to think “we’ve got this” rather than relying on God for everything.
- for it determines the course of your life. (Proverbs 4:23b)
How does guarding our heart determine the course of our life?
As a recap from yesterday Jennifer shared a post on anxiety & Philippians 4:6-7 (references guarding our hearts). I already planned to write about guarding our hearts so not a coincidence, God is always at work!
We keep our hearts guarded by submitting to God in prayer (see Philippians 4:6) and as a result we receive the peace of God through and in Jesus:
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
- Witness; our actions are observed and often imitated by others. Being prepared for difficult conversation with people who may challenge our faith or who may need a word to guide them on their way toward salvation. As we acknowledge God, he makes our path straight.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:6)
- Marriage; keeping our hearts pure for one another, keeping the commitment.
- Career; serving those whom we are entrusted to lead strengthens our bonds and builds our teams.
- Legacy; regardless of what we do, we leave a legacy behind us based on a lifetime of guarding (or not guarding) our hearts. Who will we influence and where will we influence them to?
- Eternity; God wants our hearts. We choose the course of our life, toward or away from him. Where are our treasures and therefore our hearts today?
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:2)