Above all else guard your heart

Good morning Beloved

Today's message is based on the following passage

Proverbs 4:23 nkjv

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

The AMPC goes like this

Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life

The Bible mentions the heart almost 1,000 times. In essence, this is what it says: the heart is that spiritual part of us where our emotions and desires dwell (Adaptation from gotquestions.org)

Let me simplify for us - all things in our life flows from the heart.

Bible translations often use the heart, soul and Spirit interchangeably as overlapping descriptions of the inner, non-physical human nature.

For clarification here is another adaptation:

The Heart (Levav / Kardia): Primarily functions as the command center for will, intent, and decision-making. It represents the control room where a person makes moral choices, believes, and plans their path.

The Soul (Nephesh / Psyche): Broadly represents life itself and the seat of standard human consciousness (appetites, personality, breath, and deep emotions). It is the essential "self" that links the physical body to the inner life.

The Spirit (Ruach / Pneuma): Focuses heavily on the immaterial breath of life given by God and the part of humanity capable of interacting directly with the divine realm.

I hope this helped somewhat - my conclusion on the matter is that it is not the "outward" that is the so important, but the heart that affects the outward results that are visible.

We should therefore spend much time dealing with and asking God to transform the heart.

Some other verses that will bring clarity in this study

1 Samuel 16:7

English Standard Version

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart

Luke 6:45 AMPC

The upright (honorable, intrinsically good) man out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart produces what is upright (honorable and intrinsically good), and the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that which is depraved (wicked and intrinsically evil); for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks.

How do we guard our heart?

1 We need to filter what takes root in our heart. In life we will experience hurt, pain, disappointments, challenges, trials and more.

We have controll over what we allow to take root in our heart.

90 % is how we respond to situations. It is possible to give ALL to God and he will really "cushion" us from life's blows. Depend on God for Grace and strength and he will certainly uphold you.

2 When God’s word takes root in our heart then the "alive" word of God will begin to govern and order the things we think on, say and act out.

3 God really needs to change our heart.

Listen to these words

Jeremiah 17:9

New King James Version

9 “The heart is deceitful above all things,

And [a]desperately wicked;

Who can know it?

This is the heart of the natural man

We need to pray and ask God to change our heart

This is what God will do for us when we come under Covenant with him through Christ Jesus

Ezekiel 36:26

Amplified Bible

26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

4 Wisdom must be exercised in the relationships you have. Be careful who you draw into your close circle. Remember though that completing some assignments will make you vulnerable as you love with the Agape. God will cushion you in all and keep you through all. Trust him in all.

Prayer

Abbah Father we surrender all. Remove any stoniness from our hearts, give us hearts of flesh Lord. Give us hearts like Christ we ask you in Jesus name

Amen

Walk good in Christ

Nuff love and blessings

Pastor J