One of my favourite verses is found in Proverbs 4:23 (NLT); it reads “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

In essence, the course of your life is determined by the treasury of your heart. We know that life & death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21), and we also know the tongue only speaks that which is in the heart (Luke 6:44-45); with that, we know that the power of life & death reside in our hearts. What type of seeds are you sowing in your heart? Do they contain life? or death?

What we become, ultimately, is a result of the state of our hearts. If we keep God in our hearts through our thoughts & imaginations, we will be kept in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3). No matter what comes our way.

We must, at all times, guard the gates of our hearts. The gates of our hearts are our ears & eyes. What we see with our eyes and what we hear with our ears will ultimately become what we declare with our mouths. Whatever comes into your ear-gate & eye-gate must be diligently monitored.

I want you to think about your heart like a valued possession. Think about the White House, or Buckingham Palace, or wherever the leader of your Country resides. I’m certain that not just anybody can walk into these premises. Even if you had a security pass, you’d still have to go through a few security checks, metal detectors, and more. The reason this is, is simply because the leader of the Country is of high value. The leader is so valuable that, even when he/she travels, this security process remains relatively similar. You can’t just walk into the same room as the president. The security won’t allow it. They protect the president from anyone or anything that could pose a threat.

In the same way, we must also protect guard our hearts from threats. These threats include music, movies, conversations and surroundings that continually [and often subtlety] promote evil of every kind. Sexual immorality, lying, murder, cheating, and the likes, must not make their way into our hearts. To guard your heart, you must guard the gates of your heart. Your eyes and ears. Don’t spend time listening to music that promotes adultery, jealousy, lust, etc. Don’t watch movies & TV Shows with sexual immorality, rape, and the likes. These things influence you more than you know.

Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) gives us even more reason to protect our hearts. It reads, “As he thinks in his heart, so is he”. You become what you constantly think, and you think what you constantly watch/listen to. Choose today, to monitor what enters your heart. Guard you heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Now, at this point, we should know the importance of what we let into our heart. We know what NOT to let into our hearts, so what should we meditate on instead? To live in the peace that Jesus has made available to us, we should spend time sowing seeds of life in our hearts. We do this by spending time reading the Bible. Doesn’t matter how long you do it, just find time to do it. Pray for the desire to read it. The more you read, the more you’ll want to read. We can also listen to sermons on YouTube, worship music, and engage in meaningful conversations. In no time, you’ll see tangible results in your mind, your heart, and overall life. This doesn’t mean we disengage from friends and family and in having normal conversations, it just means we become more cautious of what we let into our hearts.

Let’s pray…

Father, I come to you today, asking that you help me guard my heart. Help me to stop feeding on content that doesn’t edify me. Content that sows seed contrary to your Truth. I don’t believe the lie that I have to watch and listen to vile things to entertain myself. I choose to sow seeds of life in my heart today. I can’t do this myself, so I pray for your Holy Spirit to help me, in Jesus name. Amen.