Proverbs 4:23

November 17, 2023

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”

This verse of Scripture out of the book of Proverbs was written by King Solomon one of the wisest Kings to ever live in his time. It is one of the most important passages because it gives us the revelation of where the issues of life stem from. God’s Word in Jeremiah 17:9 explains the human heart perfectly when Jeremiah states, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”

In other words our heart cannot be trusted because of the fact that we tend to operate out of our emotions instead of relying on the Holy Spirit for guidance. When you allow evil thoughts to creep into you mind and marinate, they will have an effect on the condition of your heart. So what ends up happening to us as believers of Jesus Christ when we don’t cast down every demonic thought that the devil throws our way, it will cause issues in our lives like sexual immorality, bitterness, animosity, and anger just to name a few.

You can’t underestimate the way that the course of your life can change simply because you did not guard your heart. All it takes is for those sinful thoughts to take root and grow into full blown strongholds. At that point a person’s heart can become so corrupted making it difficult to contain negative emotions. It is easy to hide the evil things that are going on inside because it cannot be seen by the naked eye, but God knows everything including the state of your heart.

That brings us to the passage of Scripture that I am highlighting out of the proverbs of Solomon. The word “keep” is the Hebrew word “nāṣar” which means: to watch, guard, and keep. The words “your heart” is the Hebrew word “lēḇ” which means inner man, mind, will, heart, and understanding. The word “diligence” is the Hebrew word “mišmār” which means: guard, above all guarding your heart.

When we piece this first part of the Scripture together we can determine that Solomon is letting us know that it is imperative that we guard and watch our heart because it is what contains our mind, will, understanding, and emotion. Then he goes even further and mentions it again guard it diligently. Having a clean heart filled with the Holy Bible is the best way that you can guard it. Meditate on the Word of God and good things will produce, meditate on the things of this world and bad things will be produced.

The second half of the verse of Scripture states, “…for out of it spring the issues of life.” The words “the issues” is the Hebrew word “tôṣā’ôṯ” which means: outgoing, extremity, and source of life. So we can conclude that Solomon is trying to let us know that the problems and outside factors that a person faces can be due to the whole heart meditating on the wrong things.

When you let in negative thoughts of anger, animosity, bitterness, jealousy, lust, and perversion just to name a few, it will give the enemy a place in your mind and eventually into your heart. Throughout the entire Bible the Lord is warning us against being nonchalant when it comes to remaining in the path or righteousness. That is what is going to ensure that a person’s heart posture is where it needs to be preventing open doors to the enemy.

You best believe, if you give the devil an inch he will take the entire mile. That is why Solomon is making it abundantly clear to us that we are to guard, safe keep, and protect our hearts diligently. Your spiritual life should be in full effect at all times: reading your Word, praying, fasting, and communicating with your Heavenly Father. Just as much as you need your outward appearance to be on point, your inner man needs even more attention.

Jesus Christ reveals some very important sound wisdom in Matthew 12:34-35 when He states, “Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.”

The evil hearts of people are revealed through their actions and crooked speech because no matter how hard they try they can’t hide the true nature of their heart, it will come out. That is why it is imperative that you saturate your heart with the love of God. Jeremiah 29:13 discloses, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

God wants the entire heart of man and not just a piece of it. You can guarantee that the parts of it that you are withholding from the Lord are the areas that are susceptible to the enemy’s fiery arrows. The fact is that people’s characters are either shaped by every book of the Bible as their guide or it is shaped by the world. There really is no in between it truly boils down to that person’s heart posture. That is what will make the difference between a worry free life and one that is filled with unnecessary burden and stress!

Also, don’t forget to check out my other blogs:

Who is the Prophet Isaiah

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Fight Back