Post the Guard
I’m not much of a military strategist, but I have watched enough war movies to realize that an army works hard to protect the important things…capital city, supply lines, weapons and ammunition for example.
In other words, good militaries won’t spend a lot of time, energy, and resources protecting unimportant things. I have played some basketball through the years so I do know that good basketball defenses guard the rim. That’s the only place the other team can score. When combating or competing, it is wise to guard the important things.
The same is true in life. We must recognize the important aspects of life and guard those. If we fail in that endeavor, not much else will matter. If that is true, does God tell us what is vital and what should be guarded? In fact, He does.
Proverbs 4:23-27 says: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil” (NIV).
God’s Word says that if we are going to be effective followers of Jesus, we must “guard our hearts.” Notice the priority of that: “Above all else.” At the top of the list, the number one priority, if you don’t do anything else do this: “guard your heart.”
Why is it that important to guard our hearts? Because, “everything else flows from it.” Our walk with the Lord, our interacting with our families, our serving the church, our impacting others with the good news of Jesus all flow from the heart. If we don’t keep our hearts pure and focused, nothing else will stay in line either.
So, how are you doing? Are you guarding your heart or are you opening the door of your heart to stuff that shouldn’t be there? Are you protecting your heart or are you pursing unhealthy relationships that pull you away from who the Lord wants you to be? Are you prioritizing your heart or are you following the methods and madness that the world prescribes?
Above all else, guard your heart. This step will make a tremendous difference in your desire and your ability to draw near to the Lord. It will enhance your usefulness to the Lord and to sharing His love with others. Guarding your heart will help keep you focused and determined to make the most of your life. It will keep you out of trouble and in a place to receive the blessing that obedience to the Lord offers.
Guard your heart. Start there. End there. And let everything else come from a clean, pure, guarded heart and watch what God will do through a heart dedicated and devoted to Him.
Guard your heart.