Guard Your Heart

The proverb of the day today (chapter 4) mentions "guarding your heart." 

I have heard this phase a lot in Christian circles regarding budding relationships. Usually women/girls are the recipient of advice to "guard their hearts" against the advances of men, who aren't always clear with their intentions. The usual viewpoint is that men are sexually charged and want that sort of gratification from their partners whereas women are more emotional and crave heart-to-heart connection from men. If the relationship goes south and women have guarded their hearts, there won't be any hard feelings. Supposedly. I take issue with this viewpoint for multiple reasons, namely that sexual temptation and emotional connection are common and natural for both men and women. I do, however, feel that both men and women should guard their hearts...but not just in romantic relationships.

Proverbs 4:23 reads, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

Many people would agree that the way a person behaves or says reflects upon their character. Yes, there are some innocent behavioral and speech habits, but generally a person who complains a lot is moreover dissatisfied with his or her life, just as someone who is obsessed with money might pursue it despite the ways they could be hurting others in the process. What flows from our mouths and actions speaks to the conditions of our hearts.

It's pretty easy to identify heart conditions that are sinful, so I won't make a list, because I sometimes find it more challenging to identify a "target" or "goal." Solomon urges us to guard ourselves against sinful attitudes so that we can allow our hearts to align with God's, allowing God to reign in us and through us. 

What does it mean to allow God to reign in your heart?

Quite simply, it means valuing what God values, desiring what God desires, and pursuing His work.

Here are a few things to get you thinking:

God values:

• Hard work, and people who labor joyfully instead of with bitterness or annoyance (Colossians, 3:23)
• Humility, when people recognize that their accomplishments are a result of God's work in their lives (Ephesians 4:2)
• Hospitality, when people are welcoming of each other and giving of themselves (Romans 12:13)

God desires:

• Praise, when people recognize that He is powerful, great and worthy (Psalm 150:1-6)
• Community, and being in a close relationship with His children and when they are in community with each other (Hebrews 10:24-25)
• Peace, when people rise above their disagreements to serve each other instead of fighting (Psalm 34:14)

God's work:

• *First and foremost, sharing the good news* (Mark 16:15)
• Healing the sick (James 5:14-16)
• Helping the poor (Proverbs 14:31)
• Comforting the brokenhearted (2 Corinthians 1:4)