the heart

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

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Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV)

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Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

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[photo credit]

We hear the phrase “follow your heart” almost daily from people in society. The Bible actually says that we are to guard our heart, not follow it. Why? Because when we follow our hearts we are basically just following our feelings. And friend, we are often misguided by our feelings.

Our feelings, aka the “heart”, can lead us into situations simply because it feels right especially when an old boyfriend enters the picture. Our heart can cause us to make decisions that are not thought through completely when that budget-busting pair of boots is just screamin' our ever-lovin' names.

The Hebrew word for "wellspring" in the verse above is towtsa'ah. And in its simplest term means "goings out, going forth." Meaning that basically what is in our heart is where our life will lead. With that being said, we must guard our hearts. We must allow God to overwhelm our hearts with his love and guidance.

I have really taken this to heart and am making sure that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, I am guarding my heart. I am the one in charge of my heart not the other way around. I don't let my heart dictate my choices on a consistent basis. Sometimes it leads me to reach out to a hurting friend. And I follow it in some instances, but making this a daily practice will only yield pain and disappointment.

Let's guard our hearts from this day forward.

Action Steps
Do you find yourself following your heart on a regular basis? If so, what is the usual outcome? When it comes to making decisions in our lives and honoring God and the people around us, consider getting all of the facts and weighing your choices based upon more information than just “following your heart.”

written by: Cindy Beall