Guard your heart

Proverbs 4:23 NKJV

Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23 AMPC

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

Proverbs 4:23 NLT

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Proverbs 4:23 TPT

So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.

I remember asking a dear friend how they felt about living so far away from family. They replied that they had to "guard their heart" because it would be easy to fall into self pity and worry and be depressed!

What a true answer - it's the same admonition we read in this verse.

It's so easy to pander to our own will and affections. This world is full of adverts which seek to divert our attention into living for self gratification rather than for God's Will.

No one is exempt from this temptation.

But really there is no pot of gold awaiting those who live only for pleasure. And, even if we fill our lives with selfish things, we will become empty of real joy and peace.

As Jesus said:

Matthew 16:24-26 NKJV

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. [25] For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. [26] For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

I say to my soul" guard your heart"!