As I was studying a couple of weeks ago, I made a curious connection. I love when the Holy Spirit does that and I love it even more when I pick up on it! It all started with this verse:
Guard your heart above all else for it is the source of life.
Proverbs 4:23
Now we know that King Solomon wrote the Book of Proverbs, and we know wisdom was his forte, so it just makes sense that such a profound verse should come from him. It is direct, concise, and very easy to understand. It definitely is exceedingly clear. But, as I was tempted to I know, I know, I know, brush by it, I stopped to dig a little and found this is way deeper than I’d thought.
The word guard in Greek is both devotional, meaning to watch, to keep, to observe, to preserve, to protect and maintain with a covenant-like vigilance; and instructional, meaning to watch, to keep, to observe, to preserve, to protect and maintain with a covenant-like vigilance. Divinely it is active, steadfast and loyal guardianship that upholds every Biblical promise. It is the unbreakable security of those who trust in God.
In Proverbs 4:23, the instruction to guard expresses the believers’ duty and responsibility to watch, observe and, preserve, to protect and maintain with a covenant-like vigilance, leaves no room for doubt that we believers have a huge responsibility with regard to our hearts.
What I was also reminded of is that guard isn’t just one way. It’s not just about what we keep out, it’s also about what we let in. They are not the same thing. We don’t just guard to keep things out, but we also guard what we let in. Keeping out what we don’t want in and keeping in what we don’t want out. Think on that. A simplistic view would be of course we want to guard against letting sin into our hearts and we also want to keep the Word of God in our hearts.
In the Old Testament times it was believed that the heart was at the center of inner life. It was believed that it dictated thoughts, emotions, and actions. Still true today. The soul and mind combined make up the heart. The instruction then to guard our heart because it determines our life course makes good sense – what we keep in and what we keep out.
And my next study verse was this:
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Luke 1:46-47
My mind made an immediate connection. Two different verses, two different devotionals, and bam!
Mary’s life course was determined by her guarded heart, what she kept out and what she allowed in. I’m not saying that is why she was chosen by God to bring His only Son into the world, only He knows why Mary. In part God chose Mary because of her guarded heart because He would not have chosen His Son to be born to someone of an unguarded heart. But, Mary’s guarded heart is reflected in her praise of Him! He bequeathed His most precious gift to the world to be borne of a woman with a guarded heart.
How do we know she had a guarded heart? By her words:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed.
For the Mighty One has done great things for me.
Holy is His name.
His mercy extends to those who fear Him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who are proud
in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
but has exalted the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped His servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful,
as He promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
Luke 1:46-55
Would our response to the same situation reflect we had a guarded heart? Our hearts are so precious to God because we are to have hearts like His Son. Our hearts are to reflect the Son to the Father.
Mary knew better than anyone of the difficulties she’d face were all she was told to come about. It was pretty unbelievable. And yet, when she heard this news she magnified the Lord. She didn’t do so just with her lips but with her heart! Her soul and her mind combined. Mary’s reaction to the news was one of a heart that had been guarded (what she kept out) and guided (what she let in) by scripture. And it must be no different for us.
Guard your heart above all else for it is the source of life.
Proverbs 4:23