High Maintenance Christian

"Keep thy  h e a r t  with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23

This is simple, common verse, yet many Christians' lives appear to be running by one cylinder. Unplanned situations arise proving us to a worried, frustrated, and discouraged people. Read by itself, this verse always gave me the thought that I needed to create more confidence and strength for myself. But I could never fulfill this duty....

The word issues is defined as outgoings in original script. All the outgoings of our lives can be backtracked to the state of our hearts. The uncontrolled words that were spilled, the compassion felt towards a needy person, and one's self-pitying thoughts are just a few symptoms that proceed from the heart. What is the heart, that is such a vital organ in our lives? The heart --the center of our being-- consists of feelings, will, and intellect. These are the parts that need high maintenance care and protection. Now we come to the question: how do we keep our heart?

Answer: Study the rest of the passage. =)

20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Our body as a whole comes into play. The ears, eyes, mouth, lips, brain, and finally the feet are essentials in this duty. These parts of our body branch from the heart, sensing the world around us. If we apply biblical authority (standards) to these parts, our heart will be able to function as it should. Likewise, if we turn our head to lust, the heart is left unguarded-- and many times wounded. 

Carefully consider each command for the different body parts. E s t a b l i s h all your ways. Be disciplined, and consecrate your eyes, ears, mouth, etc. to the Lord's use. While we might not always be able to control what comes in our path, if we are hourly pondering our path --God's path-- we will not want to r e a c h out for anything besides God's best. When each of our body parts are spiritually congruent, THEN our feelings, will, and mind are prepared for God's own use. 

Keep your heart in high maintenance care; for it determines who you will be.