Scripture of the Week
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Prov. 4:23
Today’s text comes from the English Standard Version of the Bible, but other translations today’s verse use other words like “Guard your heart,” (i.e., NIV) or “Watch over your heart” (i.e., Amplified version). The Hebrew word for “keep”is “nâtsar” and is translated to guard, protect, preserve, maintain. The Bible Dictionary renders the word as “to secure against injury, loss or attack; to protect; to defend; to keep in safety.” When you think of types of guards, you might think of military guards, border guards, national guards, presidential guards, or maybe the guards who maintain the entries of gated communities. All have the same purpose: to protect against harm.
The word of God describes many things that contribute to having a healthy, protected heart, related to integrity, honesty, attitudes, and responsibility. Scripture also warns to guard against certain things, such as sexual immorality, idolatry, envy, drunkenness, dissension, and divisions… essentially those things done “according to the flesh” (Romans 8:5, 13). In Psalm 141:3-4, David prayed, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth, keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy itself with wicked deeds.”
A guarded heart is essential as evil disguises itself in the current culture and temptations are many. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he states that it is the Holy Spirit who provides your heart’s guard, as you surrender to His leadership. Always keep yourself under the watchful, guiding, protective hand of God’s Spirit. Allow Him to use the God’s Word as the source of that protection. Pray for people to find the true Guard for their hearts, their lives, and their eternal destiny.Download
Today’s text comes from the English Standard Version of the Bible, but other translations today’s verse use other words like “Guard your heart,” (i.e., NIV) or “Watch over your heart” (i.e., Amplified version). The Hebrew word for “keep”is “nâtsar” and is translated to guard, protect, preserve, maintain. The Bible Dictionary renders the word as “to secure against injury, loss or attack; to protect; to defend; to keep in safety.” When you think of types of guards, you might think of military guards, border guards, national guards, presidential guards, or maybe the guards who maintain the entries of gated communities. All have the same purpose: to protect against harm.
The word of God describes many things that contribute to having a healthy, protected heart, related to integrity, honesty, attitudes, and responsibility. Scripture also warns to guard against certain things, such as sexual immorality, idolatry, envy, drunkenness, dissension, and divisions… essentially those things done “according to the flesh” (Romans 8:5, 13). In Psalm 141:3-4, David prayed, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth, keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy itself with wicked deeds.”
A guarded heart is essential as evil disguises itself in the current culture and temptations are many. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he states that it is the Holy Spirit who provides your heart’s guard, as you surrender to His leadership. Always keep yourself under the watchful, guiding, protective hand of God’s Spirit. Allow Him to use the God’s Word as the source of that protection. Pray for people to find the true Guard for their hearts, their lives, and their eternal destiny.Download
Northwest Christian Church 