A Life in Exile

There are words of wisdom in Scripture that we remember and some that we share on a regular basis with others. The exhortation to guard our hearts is one that I have used many times over the years. I know from my own experience and also the words of Jeremiah, that this is crucial to our Christian lives.

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

I’ve fallen under the spell of my deceitful heart, and it’s not a pretty picture. When we let emotions rule, we lose our way and seek to justify sinful actions because they were “heartfelt.” For this reason, today’s lesson from the book of Proverbs is instructive, as it gives practical steps (I love practical) to the practice of guarding our hearts.

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. (Proverbs 4:23-27 ESV)

Be vigilant as you stand guard

We know what happens when guards shirk their duties in guarding (think Jeffrey Epstein). We’ve all been there, intent to watch through the night, but falling asleep at the wheel (think Peter, James, and John in Gethsemane). No one is immune to the tendency to let things slide.

For this reason, I stop at this first phrase in our passage today. “Keep your heart with all vigilance,” or guard your heart with all vigilance. It’s not just an exhortation to keep or guard it with some vigilance or wakefulness or care, but with everything you’ve got. Stay alert at all costs, through all situations, and with the utmost intent, because your heart is not just important, but it is where the springs of life flow up.

So, your heart is the control center of your soul and mind. Everything emanates from this part of our being. The words we speak start with the attitude of our hearts. The actions we take stem from a godly or evil intent found in our hearts. Ultimately, it is in our hearts that the Spirit of Christ dwells, and I want to protect His place in my life. He’s the source of that spring of life in me. Vigilance is required so we don’t grieve Him (think about Jesus’s disappointment in the disciples when He had to wake them up).

What we must get rid of to guard our hearts

The second phrase in this passage requires a kind of spiritual housecleaning in the process of guarding our hearts. This also requires vigilance or regular maintenance. We are to “put away” crooked speech and devious talk. Why is this important?

It goes back to the heart being the place through which the springs of life flow. If we allow the Spirit full control of our hearts, then our words are going to reflect that intimate relationship. We will be speaking that which comes not only from God’s Word but also to His honor and glory. Crooked speech and devious talk have no place in the life of a Christian. We must guard against such words and put them away, far away.

Focused eyes

Guarding our hearts is not just about what we don’t do but also about what we choose to do. In this next couplet, we learn that a person who guards their heart is always focused forward. This makes me think about Peter, as he was walking on the water toward Jesus. How cool would that be? His focus on Jesus was a reflection of his faith that his rabbi could enable him to do anything, even this thing, and he did for a while, even while the storm raged around him.

What made him start to sink? He diverted his eyes to the storm. He failed to keep his eyes directly forward on Jesus.

You may think this exhortation is not as clear-cut as the first one, but it is. We know this world has dangers and pitfalls, but when we focus on our Savior, we can move forward in faith and trust that He will protect and guide us through every crooked way. I think about horses that wear blinders. This keeps them focused on the path ahead instead of dogs or other things along the way that might try to scare them.

What helps us focus our eyes straight ahead? God’s Word and a vigilance to refrain from looking at things that do not honor God. How much are we distracted by our phones? Even now as I write, my phone buzzes with notifications to distract. I’m determined to keep my eyes on writing. This is God’s purpose for me today. I’m choosing to stay vigilant.

Determined steps

Let’s go back to that horse illustration, as we look at this next practical step to guarding our hearts. When a horse goes with blinders, it is much more focused on the path before it. It’s able to easily step over a hole or a branch that lies across the way. It can quickly stop when a bigger tree hinders travel, saving its rider from harm. This is what this next couplet tells us.

“Ponder the path of your feet.” When we do this, taking time to consider what’s ahead, our way is sure. Running willy-nilly, as we say in the South, can lead to trouble and make others wonder who’s in control of your life. The ways of the Lord are sure, and He guides us on paths of righteousness.

Keep your hands on the wheel

Finally, we have the caution against swerving along the way. “Do not swerve,” or otherwise, keep yourself from evil. After all, each of these practical guides in guarding our hearts helps us to maintain holy living over the temptation of all that is ungodly.

If you feel yourself losing control of your heart, ask the Lord to “take the wheel,” to keep you from yielding to temptation, and protect the place of the Spirit at all costs. In the end, in our own might, we don’t have the strength or ability to keep our speech clean, keep our eyes forward, ponder our ways, or stop from swerving—we need the Spirit who dwells in our heart to guard it!

These steps help us know what we should do and how we should live, but ultimately, we must do it all in submission to the Holy Spirit. It’s by His grace alone that we can guard our hearts, His home. Pray He will increase your vigilance as you grow in relationship with Him and His Word.

Grace and Peace

If you missed the last Friday Focus post, click HERE, or start this Walking in Wisdom series from the beginning.