:: this post is a part of the 3.31 IMPACT series ::

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Focus

Proverbs 4:23 NLT
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Decision

Are you aware of the fact that the Lord urges us to guard our hearts?  Proverbs 4:23 makes it very plain, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” The guarding makes sense, as we know the heart is a tender place, but isn’t it surprising that it also determines the course of our life?

Is that it because our hearts store up our secret dreams?

Is it because it holds within the weight of our shame and guilt?

Is it because our heart is a hiding place for our wounds?

Is it because the essence of who we are is in our heart, and it needs to be wisely and purposefully opened up?

Although we may not know the answers to these questions, we can still apply the principle to be careful to guard our heart through making wise decisions about what we let come inside (what we experience, watch, listen to, bond with) and about what we are willing to share with others (our dreams, desires, personal stories).

[Tweet “A heart that is well-guarded and holy healed offers a powerful story of His work.”]

As a proverbial heart-sleeve wearer, I use to think that “well-guarded” infringed on being transparent. That’s until I learned that to be well-guarded is be discerning — not only about what goes into my heart but also what I share.  I’ve come to the conclusion that sharing your heart needs a good bit of thoughtful consideration and a check on motives. If the purpose is for seeking attention, the story ought to be left unspoken.

If sharing our hearts is about proclaiming God’s glory and testifying about His redemptive power, then we are in the right place to share humbly and with holy boldness. For then, it’s about Him and not us!

Surrender

Heavenly Father, teach us how to guard our heart, for it is the wellspring of our life. Show us what we need to stop watching, listening to, absorbing. Show us who we need to put up healthy boundaries with, so that their influence doesn’t fill our hearts with junk. Help us Lord have the courage to seek you for heart-healing transformation, so that what overflows from our hearts tells your story. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection

What is going on in your heart?  Are there things you need to share with the Lord?  How can the work God has done on your heart be shared with others, today, for His glory?