Young Adults' Group

Keep Your Heart With All Diligence

by Pastor Mark
February 06, 2025

The matter of the heart

The heart is the centre of our emotions. It contains our innermost feelings and how we respond to the things around us. The heart is also a store of the things we love and treasure. These things could be good or evil. Whatever we fill our hearts with would also reflect who we are.

The author of Proverbs provides some insight concerning the heart, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) The heart plays a vital role in our lives. Out of it will spring forth the issues of life. This refers to all that constitutes life, whether good or evil. What we say and what we do will reflect the kind of heart we have.

The challenge to have a good heart

How can we ensure that we have a good heart?

1. Filling our hearts with words of wisdom

1. Solomon had already written about how the heart should be filled with wisdom.
   • Wisdom should enter the heart (Proverbs 2:10).
   • The heart should keep wise commandments (Proverbs 3:1).
   • Mercy and truth should be written on the tablet of our heart (Proverbs 3:3).
   • The heart should retain the words and commands taught (Proverbs 4:4).
2. We should keep words of wisdom in our hearts.

“My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart;” (Proverbs 4:20–21).

1. • Pay attention to the words that have been instructed to us.
   • Our ears ought to be inclined to these words of wisdom.
   • We should consistently read these words.
   • The challenge is to keep these words of wisdom in our hearts.
   • Let us hold on to these precious words close to our hearts.

2. Guarding our hearts from evil with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23)

1. We should not allow evil thoughts and ways to fill our heart.
2. The challenge is to guard our hearts diligently.
3. We want to ensure our hearts are safely secured and protected from all evil.

3. Putting away any evil in word and life

“Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you.” (Proverbs 4:24).

1. When our hearts are filled with words of wisdom, it would affect our lives.
2. We would want to put away all evil and perverse words.
3. Our life and behaviour would do that which is good.

The blessing of having a heart filled with words of wisdom

“For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.” (Proverbs 4:22)

The words would give life and health to us. It would affect us both physically and spiritually. Let us be challenged to understand the importance of having a good heart as it affects our life and behaviour. Let us be challenged to guard our hearts well, with all diligence.

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