Guard Your Heart
(The big Idea)
 
Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Since, as we have seen, all of our decisions in life flow out of the abundance of our heart, we are to guard that heart.

Make the right choices early

Carriage Story: My father told me a story that his father told him.  “A man was going to hire a new carriage driver.  He had the first applicant drive up a hill with a steep incline on one side of the road.  The applicant wanted to show how good he was, so he drove the carriage as close to the cliff edge as he could all the way up and down the hill.

The second driver was a little frightened of the ravine, so he held the carriage as close to the hill side of the road as he could. 

The question is, which of the two drivers did the man hire?” 

The answer is the second man, because he was a safe driver.

The secret in life is
not to see how close to sin we can get,
but to keep away from sin.

 

Bible memory and meditation

As a college student I memorized verses of scripture to help me in my battle with the fleshly lust.  When tempted to take a second look I would automatically go through these verses in my mind.

Psalm 119:9-11
9          How can a young man keep his way pure?  By living according to your word.
10        I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
11        I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Jeremiah 15:16
16        When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight,
for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty.

II Timothy 2:22
22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Reach out for forgiveness. 

Ps 51:7-10
7          Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8          Make me to hear joy and gladness, let the bones which Thou hast broken rejoice.
9          Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10        Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  (NAS)

 

Bottom Line:  Put good things in our heart, so that when we reach for an action, good actions will result.

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