“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life,” (Proverbs 4:23 NASB)
Like cool, refreshing water flows from a natural spring, godly attitudes and behaviors flow from a pure heart. But if the spring gets clogged with debris or polluted with toxins the flow and quality of the water is compromised, threatening life downstream. In similar fashion a heart that is dirty and clogged with sin shows up in toxic and destructive attitudes and behaviors, poisoning all those who come in contact with it. Luke 6:45 explains, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
It is of paramount importance, therefore, that we attend to the spiritual health of our “heart.” But what does it actually mean to “watch your heart,” and how do you do it?
In order to better understand how to watch our heart, we should first observe some of the references to “heart” in Scripture. Proverbs 23:7 says “As a man thinks in his heart, so he is.” Job 17:11 references the same wording, “… the thoughts of my heart.” And again in Genesis 6 when God was assessing the level of wickedness that mankind had deteriorated to before the flood, He describes their condition this way: “the thoughts of his heart were evil continually,” (verse 5).
These verses, and others, refer to thoughts and thinking as a function of the “heart” because those thoughts that dominate our mind show up in our spirit and behavior and expose what we are made of and what we truly believe. They mirror our true affections and desires and govern our life. “For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks,” Luke 6:45 says. So to “watch our heart” means to guard, monitor and attend to the thoughts we allow to dominate our mind.
We do this most effectively by reading and meditating on Scripture and in thoughtful prayer. God’s Word is the only weapon we have sufficient to beat our enemy (Heb. 4:12). It is even the same weapon Christ used against Satan when He was led into the wilderness and tempted (Matt. 4). And not only is this how we overcome the enemy, it is also how God transforms us into the image of His Son… “by the renewing of our mind [thoughts].”
You cannot entertain two opposing thoughts simultaneously. So as soon as you realize your thoughts are not honoring God, actively substitute a thankful thought or verse of Scripture (Ps. 119:11). This is how you “watch your heart.” And this is what “bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” looks like.
Andrew Gray said, “Do not let evil thoughts enter, or if they enter, do not let them abide in your heart. Dislodge them and do not allow good thoughts to depart and vanish, but cherish and entertain them.”
Above all else, guard your heart… and with your life you will honor and adore your God (Prov. 4:23).
