Source of Life
I had an email convo with an old friend yesterday and during that convo something hit me. I ended my email response with this: I respect you. not b/c of anything you have done or where you have been, but because you stick with the Truth in your heart. Don’t ever let anyone or any situation take that away, b/c if you lose it, then you lose the peace and grace to succeed that comes with it.
In the last couple of years, Meg and I have made some tough decisions. Some people have been mad about our decisions, some hurt. But as I was writing this email Proverbs 4:23 popped into my head which triggered my salutation in the email.
Proverbs 4:23
Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.
Watch over your heart with all diligence,
Literally translated, it means guard or watch, like a prison, your heart. Your heart is:
1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding
2) soul, heart (of man)
3) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory
4) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)
5) conscience
6) heart (of moral character)
7) as seat of appetites, emotions, passion, and courage
We are to guard our character (integrity), emotions, courage, determination, conscience. Can you imagine leaving all that unguarded and losing it? Probably why Paul says, “In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men”
For from it flow the springs of life
Translated, that portion means that it is the source of life.
Basically this verse says guard your heart which is your soul, character, conscience, will, knowledge, emotion, passion, and courage, because from it flow the source of life.
The Bible also says that the Holy Spirit leads us and guides us into all Truth and that His Truth can be written on our hearts. God speaks Truth to our heart and all that it entails. It is up to us to write it on our hearts by guarding the Truth He speaks like a prison.
So today I tell you the same thing:
Stick with the Truth in your heart. Don’t ever let anyone or any situation take that away from you. No matter what anyone says or does. Guard it. If you lose it, you lose the source of life.
Besides our heart is what God is looking at.
