Guarding Our Hearts

What does it take to guard our hearts against evil? It's very simple actually!

In order to guard our hearts against sin and the evil works of darkness, we must be careful of what we look at, listen to, who we fellowship with, and what we partake in.

Proverbs 4:23 - Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

The main way that we can keep our hearts pure and holy is to start by examining ourselves. What are we filling our minds with? Are we corrupting our ears with trashy music? Are we looking at things we shouldn't? Are we partaking in sin?

Everything is spiritual. (Ephesians 6:12)

Everything we do affects us whether for good or for bad. Take music for example. Music is very powerful! Listening to worldly, cultural music can harm our souls. That's not to say just because a song isn't necessarily a worship song that it is bad. But listening to music with filthy language, explicit content and worldly ideas can be bad for our spiritual lives.

What we look at is just as, if not more, important. What we fill our minds with is a clear representation of our hearts. Watching movies and reading books with trash in them certainly affect us. Are you taking precautions in the things you look at?

Psalms 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

Another way is by surrendering our every thought to Christ. Are your thoughts pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous or praiseworthy? These are the things the Lord calls us to think on.

Philippians 4:8

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

What else can we do to preserve our hearts for the Lord?

Ephesians 6:11 - Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

How can we put on the full armor of God? The Bible says in Ephesians to gird our loins with truth. How can we do that if we are not filling our minds with the truth of the word? Reading our bible is the key to understanding the Lord.

Putting on the breastplate of righteousness. How can we put on the breastplate of righteousness if we are not living righteously? Well, we can't. If we are not living in obedience to the Lord, we cannot be righteous. Salvation is through obedience unto righteousness. (Romans 6:16)

Praying always. Prayer is so important! I think it is often undermined but it is so very powerful. The Bible repeatedly tells us to pray without ceasing. Prayer is the #1 way we speak to the Lord; throughout the Bible, we can see all that was availed through prayer.

Taking the helmet of salvation. We must put on the helmet of salvation by living according to God's will for our lives and obeying Him.

The Bible says to shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. We should be ready to give an answer to whoever we come across. We should be prepared to teach others about the Lord and share the gospel. The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 2:15 to study to show ourselves approved unto the Lord.

Above all, take the shield of faith. If we have faith the size of a mustard seed we can move mountains. I think a lot of people struggle to put their faith in the Lord because they don't really think that He knows what is best. Faith is so important, but I see and hear of so many people who don't want to give the Lord all their trust. God knows what He is doing. Do not lean on your own understanding.

Take the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. So many people undermine the word of God. So many find it unimportant to dive into scripture daily. But this is how we fight the devil! If we do not fill our minds with God's truth, we won't be able to discern between the Lord's voice and the lies of the devil.

And lastly, we can guard our hearts by staying as far away from sin and darkness as possible. Some people try to get as close to sin as they can while still being able to "get to heaven." But this is the wrong mindset. In this case, are you really giving up sin because you want to follow the Lord and live righteously? Or are we only trying to get a ticket to heaven?

Fill your mind and ears with heavenly things, not earthly things.

You can do this! There is no temptation that we cannot overcome. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Similar verses:

1 John 2:15-17 - Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Colossians 3:2 - Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Ephesians 5:11 - And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

James 4:4 - Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Romans 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Titus 2:12 - Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Isaiah 55:7 “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”