Proverbi 4:23-27 “Custodisci il tuo cuore più di ogni altra cosa, poiché da esso provengono le sorgenti della vita. 24 Rimuovi da te la perversità della bocca, allontana da te la falsità delle labbra.25 I tuoi occhi guardino bene in faccia, le tue palpebre si dirigano dritto davanti a te. 26 Appiana il sentiero dei tuoi piedi, tutte le tue vie siano ben preparate. 27 Non girare né a destra né a sinistra, ritira il tuo piede dal male.”
The heart is mentioned as a crucial part of keeping ourselves rightly connected to God. It describes it as the wellspring of life. This spring flows in many directions and must be understood as more than just our emotions. It cascades over us and surfaces in our behavior. The following verses teach us through metaphors how to guard our heart. They are written as a statement and then a description.
The first statement is to put away perversity from our mouth followed by a description to avoid corrupt talking. The second statement advises us to look straight ahead followed by a description to fix our gaze (no distraction) on what we are doing. Third, we are counseled to make level paths and only take steps that are firm (watch out for the potholes!). Finally we are directed to not swerve left or right and by doing so we won’t find ourselves encompassed by evil. It can be emphasized by these 4 watches: watch what you say, watch what you see, watch what you do and watch where you go.
Every believer needs to regularly take an honest inventory of his or her heart and ask: What is the wellspring of my life producing in me? Keeping track of the 4 “watches” is a good way to evaluate yourself.
Pray with me: Lord, You know my heart. Help me to be honest with myself and to work at watching my heart with greater diligence.
