“The heart is the mainspring.”
Smith Wigglesworth
God knows me so well. He knows when boredom tempts me to eat, there’s something amiss within my heart and that I’m in need of an internal settling. He’s also aware that one of the best ways to correct the wrong within my heart is having time alone with my heavenly Daddy. Hearing God’s voice restores peace to my soul.
We’d be wise to heed the words of Proverbs 4:23: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” In other words, our top priority is to “be attentive, vigilant, alert and to watch over in order to protect” our heart because it is the “source” of our “existence.” King Solomon gave us this guidance because he knew everything flowed from the fount of our heart.
The heart is our command center from which all things are controlled. Our words, thoughts, decisions, feelings, choices and actions all proceed out of our heart’s supply. Luke 6:45 highlights this principle. “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”
A cup filled to the brim with water, when bumped, will spill water. Likewise, whatever your heart is full of, will flow out, when life slams into it. That’s why it’s vital to take care of our hearts. The overflow doesn’t just affect us, but everyone else in our path. Furthermore, if our hearts are not right with God, then nothing is right.
We can protect our command centers by making time for soul care. Solitude, pondering God’s thoughts and listening to His voice gives me peace and restoration. Keeping short accounts, letting go of offense through forgiveness and processing our disappointments in life, are other ways we can guard our hearts.
So, what’s in your heart? Take your pulse, see if there’s anything that’s hindering your command center and restore any hurt inside. Make sure all is well within your heart, so when you’re bumped in life only the accumulated good, flows out.
“Remember that the tongue speaks only what is in the heart.”
Theodore Epp
Relevant Reflections:
If you were to be bumped today, what would flow out of your heart?
What steps can you take to guard your heart?