Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.  Proverbs 4:23

Above all else, those are pretty powerful words.

One thing that we as believers must remember is that we have an enemy, and that we are at war – in a battle.  The battle is for our hearts and minds.

In John 10:10 Jesus said

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy

But Jesus also gives us hope as he continues

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

One version of the Bible quotes Proverbs 4:23 this way

Above all else guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. 

The definition of wellspring is “a source of continual or abundant supply”.  If the thief, the devil, can corrupt your heart, then he can stop the Holy Spirit’s continual and abundant supply of life that Jesus came to give you.

Are you experiencing the life Jesus died to give you? 

Jesus did more than die just to give you eternal life, though that is of course part of it.  Jesus died so you could have life, and have it to the full NOW.   But that life is opposed – there is a thief.   And if you want that life, you are going to have to fight for it, because the enemy has a different agenda.

We are at war, a spiritual battle, and the world is the combat zone.  There is a violent clash of kingdoms and it is a bitter struggle to the death.  We were all born into it, and we will live our entire lives in the midst of it.

The war is against your heart.

Before we were promised life, Jesus warned of the thief who would steal, kill and destroy.  Do you understand this? If you don’t, you won’t understand your life, you won’t understand what has happened to you, or how you will live forward from here – unless you see the battle.  And you are going to need your whole heart for what is coming next in your life.  You will need to see more clearly.  You NEED to!  If you are not seeing clearly it is because you are not seeing through the eyes of your heart.

Our heart is at the heart of it all.  Our heart is life itself. 

The enemy is against us.  He is stealing our hearts with busyness, and all of the everyday distractions of this world.

So, how can you guard your heart?  How can you have the life Jesus died to give you, and have it to the full? 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7

So my questions for you to ponder today . . .

Are you truly trusting in the Lord with all your heart?  Are you resting in God’s peace, which passes all understanding – allowing him to guard your heart and mind?