Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (Proverbs 4:23)

Proverbs teaches that the heart is the source from which life flows. Solomon instructs his son to guard it with all diligence because the heart determines actions and outcomes. A corrupt heart cannot produce righteous fruit. The mouth speaks from its abundance, and the mind obeys its affections. When a man treasures God’s word above all, his heart becomes a wellspring of truth and power. This is the seat of reason and faith.

A heart well-guarded is a heart undivided and devoted to God. There is no double-mindedness or compromise, especially when it comes to the things of faith. An unwavering mind comes from constant feeding on Scripture and daily communion with God. Prayer aligns the mind to God’s purpose and fortifies the inner man against deception and corruption. Purity is not only the absence of external sinful acts. It is also the presence of fruit of the Spirit born from within. The one who guards his heart reigns in life, because Christ reigns in him.