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

Probably one of the most difficult, yet vitally important things that we can do as a believer and follower of Christ is to “keep”, or “guard”, our hearts with diligence. Whatever we allow to reside or *lodge* within our hearts, either good or bad, will then flow out from within and affect everything we do or say.

Luke 6:45 – A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

As believers and followers of Christ we are equipped and expected to bring forth good fruit out of the abundance of a heart that has been transformed and made new in Christ. Prior to our redemption in Christ our hearts WERE desperately wicked, but no longer, in Him our hearts are made new. 

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh (Ez 36:26). 

We can be thankful that Christ resolved the problem of our wicked hearts and we have been transplanted with a new one. This is a promise conferred upon those who have truly put their trust in Christ and upon whom the seed has fallen on good soil.

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and *good heart*, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience (Luke 8:15).

As we can see in that passage, with that new heart there comes a responsibility on our part to “keep” it, to guard it, and bring forth fruit with patience. We determine the condition of the soil of our hearts by faithfully yielding to the work of the spirit within us. God will equip us and empower us, but he will NOT walk it out for us or force us, that is *our responsibility* to do as we walk by faith.

One of the best ways to evaluate and determine what is in our hearts, is to examine the words that come out of our mouths in our interactions with others. As scripture tells us, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Whenever an untoward, impatient or unkind word utters from our lips, at any time, it flows from deep within and exposes what is inside our hearts. 

We have a tendency to excuse ourselves when those bad, or unkind words come out in the heat of the moment, or in an argument, but that is precisely the moment that is most crucial. That is when our hearts are truly tested and exposed. It’s easy to be kind and gracious when people are treating us well and everything is going swimmingly, but since life doesn’t often go that way it’s critical that we learn and practice “guarding” our hearts. We do that by not allowing offenses or unkind thoughts toward others to reside within our minds, especially those closest to us. When we entertain those thoughts and allow them to grow and fester within us, it leads to bitterness and will eventually spill out in our words and actions. This causes all kinds of conflict, turmoil and trouble in our lives, it is the devils playground. We need to surrender all such ill thoughts to the Lord in prayer and let our minds dwell only on that which is good, upright and praiseworthy.

Phil 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, *let your mind dwell* on these things.

We have little to no control over what others do or say to us or what other difficulties life may throw at us, but we have complete control over how we react to it and what we allow to lodge within our hearts as a result. So, it is imperative that we learn to “keep our hearts with all diligence” and put our trust in the Lord.