How To Glorify God with Your Heart (And Every Other Body Part)
What does it mean to guard your heart, and how do we put this principle into action?
Today, let’s take a closer look at Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (NIV).
You may have heard this verse referenced in the context of Christian dating, where someone cautioned against becoming emotionally intimate with your crush too soon as it can lead to unhealthy, premature attachment.
Although this is certainly wise instruction, I don’t think it is what Solomon, the author of the proverb, had in mind primarily.
I say that because, for one, while in modern-day English we use “heart” in relation to a person’s romantic sentiments, the book of Proverbs was written in biblical Hebrew, where the word has a much broader meaning.
In biblical Hebrew, the word speaks of the command center of the soul, namely the entire inner person. It refers to our thoughts, feelings, aspirations, will, desires, inclinations, attitudes, affections, motives, and so on.
(By the way, “heart” is mentioned more than 800 times in the Old Testament alone, making it one of the most commonly used terms in all Scripture!)
Secondly, the CONTEXT of the command to “guard your heart” in Proverbs 4:23 is also crucial.
The chief rule for accurately interpreting God’s Word is to read every verse and paragraph in context. And what’s taking place in the fourth chapter of Proverbs is that Solomon is having a talk with his “sons” (verse 1) about how to grow in godly wisdom. (Scholars agree that “sons” most likely refers to Solomon’s pupils or apprentices.)
Solomon is instructing these young men to walk in righteousness and do whatever they can to avoid evil and the people who practice it. That’s the gist of the chapter.
The context is virtuous, God-centered day-to-day living in general, not dating or romantic relationships specifically.
With this in mind, when we go back to verse 23, “Above all else, guard your heart…” we understand that it’s a command to guard (that is, to examine and evaluate) what we allow into our inner person through our senses.
For good or for bad, what we let into our hearts will express itself in our lives. The way we think is the way we are (Proverbs 23:7). Our habits, activities, and pursuits—in fact, the entire direction of our lives (everything we do, Proverbs 4:23 says)—originate from the heart!
And now that we correctly understand what “heart” refers to and why Proverbs says it’s critical to guard it, how do we take action on this knowledge? How do we go about protecting our inner person against ungodly influences so we stay firm in our faith and live lives that glorify God?
By far, the best way to guard your heart is to meditate on Scripture. The Psalmist said it perfectly: “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11).
When we feed our soul (or “heart”: same thing) with “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute,” and with that which is of “excellence” and “worthy of praise“ (Philippians 4:8), our inner person is strengthened.
In turn, we become better equipped to resist sin and make decisions, big and small, that are pleasing to the Lord.
Yes, everything is a product of who we are on the inside, even our speech. According to Jesus, “The mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Matthew 12:34).
And just like our bodies can’t work properly unless our physical heart is healthy, we can’t function correctly in our relationship with God and fellow humans unless the inner core of who we are is healthy.
In Matthew 15:17-19 Jesus goes so far as to say it’s not what we eat or drink that makes us unclean, but rather the things that flow from the heart. This is how much power our heart holds over us.
Let’s get serious, then, about guarding our hearts as we commit to bringing God’s Truth into the deepest parts of our being!
L.B.
Do you have any daily rituals or practices that help guard your heart against sinning? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
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