The Heart

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

Philosophers say that the heart is the first thing that lives and the last thing that dies. I think that is pretty much also consistent with science. It is at the first heartbeat that a baby really begins to live. A human being can lose a lot of organs and still be alive. But once the heart stops that person is gone and it is similar spiritually. The posture of your heart determines the direction of your life. Therefore, to control and influence your life, you have to influence your heart.

God says you are to guard your heart with all diligence because all the issues of life including the course of your life, flows from your heart. If you do not like the course of your life or the issues flowing in your life, then check your heart. To keep your mind from vanity, your understanding from error, your conscience from guilt and stain, your affections from becoming inordinate and to keep your life from mediocrity, you need to guard your heart. An anonymous quote reads, “Sow a thought, reap a deed. Sow a deed, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny.”

People are mostly consumed with destiny - how to have and fulfil a great destiny. But it is your thoughts that determine your deeds. Your deeds determine your habits. Your habits determine your character. And your character determines your destiny. Instead of being overly consumed about your destiny, you should be more focused on your thoughts, that is what will determine your destiny. What are the thoughts in your heart?

My spiritual father, Pastor Eskor Mfon of blessed memory would often say to me, “It is all about the heart. This walk is a ‘heart-walk'” The state of the heart is so unbelievably huge that God destroyed an entire civilization because they had a heart problem. Please read Genesis 6:5. The question is, how is your heart and how are you guarding your heart?

Reflections
1. What do you need to talk to God about based on today’s reading?

2.Write out one action to take based on today’s reading.