GUARD

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PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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In Proverbs 4:23, we hear, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” This is an essential truth that we all need to keep in our minds as we seek faithfulness to God in all our ways. If we want to see real and lasting change in our walk with God or in our habits and hangups, then we must start by looking inward, at the heart. 

Today, we are going to work through the following passage and see what we can learn about what it means to guard our hearts and pursue true faithfulness. 

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

24 Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.

26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.

27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

(Proverbs 4:23-27 NIV11)

Heart

If said that someone had a “good heart”, what attributes would come to mind?

  •   Generosity… Compassion for others…
  •   Understanding of another’s needs…
  •   Willingness to show undeserved kindness…

What if I said that a person had a “bad heart,” what attributes would come to mind then?

  •   Cruel to others… uncaring…
  •   Cold, unaffectionate, harsh…
  •   Abusive, manipulative, argumentative…

The condition of our heart makes a huge impact on how we treat others, what kinds of words we speak, and the attitudes that we express to others. It is not an exaggeration to say that having a good or a bad heart really does affect every part of our lives. 

This is why we are being called to guard our hearts by allowing the Lord to rule in our hearts. 

How

  •   But how can we guard our hearts? 
  •   What does this mean? 
  •   What would this look like?

In verses 24-27, we hear a collection of examples of ways that we can pursue a good heart as we allow the Lord to have full and complete access to all that we are. 

We will now look at these illustrations of what it means to have the Lord rule in our hearts:

24 Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 

(Proverbs 4:24 NIV11)

  •   You know what they say, garbage in, garbage out. 
  •   If we consume perversity, corruption, lies, and harsh language in our entertainment, in our music, and in our casual conversations, we will find these consumables flowing from our own mouths very soon. 

If you want to see change in this area, ask the Lord to help you develop a desire for wholesome and uplifting language and an aversion to coarse and corrupt conversation. 

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. 

(Proverbs 4:25 NIV11)

  •   What are you consuming with your eyes?
  •   Who are you looking at?

If you do not want to stray in your marriage, do not entertain any alternatives. 

Keep your eyes, your hands, your intimate conversations, and your sexual desires at home, focused on your spouse. 

If this is a struggle for you, ask the Lord to help you grow in your love for purity and commitment. Start in the heart and allow the Lord to help his love overflow out of you.

26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. 

(Proverbs 4:26 NIV11)

Where do you go? It is hard to be unfaithful if you do not set foot in places of temptation. 

  •   Are you struggling with tobacco? Stay out of the smoke shops. 
  •   Are you fighting sexual temptation? Stay off the internet unless you have work to do. 
  •   Is there a person in your life who is a source of any kind of temptation? Remove yourself from their presence. 

Your sacrifice is worth it when you see your faithfulness from God’s perspective. 

27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

(Proverbs 4:27 NIV11)

  •   Seek faithful in all things. Focus on the steps before you.
  •   Stop looking around for new jobs, new houses, new cars, new spouses. Instead, seek the Lord and invite Jesus into your daily life and into the seat of your emotions. 

If we will set our eyes on being faithful, one step at a time, then we will reach our goal. 

If we ignore the call of God to pursue him with everything that we do and say, then we will struggle and wear ourselves out trying to do what only Jesus Christ can do.  

Open your heart to the leadership and presence of the Lord today. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Senior Pastor at PARK HILL BAPTIST CHURCH


Worked at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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Copyright © 2024 Ryan Laden – All Rights Reserved.

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