How to Guard My Heart

4:23 Above all else is literally "more than all guarding." To guard something is to make sure that it doesn't get away and that it is safe from attack.

In Hebrew the heart is the location of knowledge and also the preconscious source of decisions (27:19; Mt 15:18). Your heart is who you are, the "true you" that directs all your thoughts and emotions.

 You can educate your heart (Pr 24:32)—consciously form and modify a worldview—after which decisions and actions flow from it (16:9,23; Lk 6:45;Rm 10:10; 2Co 9:7). This education can be worldly, carried out by yourself, or godly, carried out by the Holy Spirit (Pr 2:6; Jer 24:7; Ezek 36:26-27; Ac 16:14; Rm 2:29). The inclination of your heart directs your mortal life and determines whether you enter eternal life (3:22).

God’s Part - God gives ALL that which is necessary to change our lives and to enable us to follow Him.

1.      The Lord GIVES wisdom – it’s from Him. Pr 2:6
2.       God has (already!) GIVEN me a heart to know Him, to return with all my heart. Jer 24
3.       God has (already!) PLACED His Spirit in me and CAUSES me to follow Him carefully. Ex 36
4.       The Lord OPENS my heart & ears to pay attention. Acts 16:14 & Psalm 40:6
5.       The Spirit (not my actions) CIRCUMCISES my heart. Rom 2:29

My Part – His Spirit teaches me how (Titus 2)

1.      MEDITATE on and fill my thoughts with what is true of God. Psalms and hymns – the altar I’ve built in my heart, reminding me of His goodness in my life.
2.       MAKE every thought obedient to Christ. 2 Cor 10:5
3.       RESPOND to the Holy Spirit’s guidance Eph 4:30, 1 Thess 5:19, Gal 5
4.       GUARD against any junk that wants to enter my mind, will, and emotions. Things that can take root in my heart. Reject every kind of evil. Even a hint.
5.      TRUST God to do His part. Know that He’s on my side, and has enabled me to follow through on what the wants by His Son, through the Spirit. Sense, Pray, Act. (SPA).

Circumcision

Existed elsewhere in the ancient Near East but here it achieved a new meaning.

Genesis 17

By this symbol God impressed them with the impurity of nature and with dependence on God for the production of all life.

They would recognize and remember:

• that native impurity must be laid aside, especially in marriage
• that human nature is unable to generate the promised seed

They must be loyal to the family. Any Israelite who refused to be cut physically in this way would be cut off (separated) from his people because of his disobedience to God's command.

Elsewhere Scripture refers to circumcision as a symbol of separation, purity, and loyalty to the covenant. Moses said that God would circumcise the hearts of His people so that they might be devoted to Him.

Deut. 30:6

The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts means that God will graciously grant the nation a new will to obey Him in place of their former spiritual insensitivity and stubbornness. With their new "heart" they will remain committed and experience abundant blessing.

-O God, give me a new will to obey You! Tie my heart to you like a fetter that I may not wonder! Strip me of my insensitivity towards You and what You love/hate. Take away my stubbornness that I may follow You in a committed relationship and experience fellowship with You as Your face shines my direction.

Paul wrote that "circumcision of the heart" (i.e. being inwardly set apart "by the Spirit") evidences salvation and fellowship with God.

Romans 2:28-29

Circumcision of the heart fulfills "the spirit" of God's law. A circumcised heart is one that is separated from the world and dedicated to God. Receiving praise not from men, but from God who sees our inward natures (Matt 6: 4; 6) and discerns our hearts (Heb 4:12).

- Search me, O God and know my heart! Test me and know my anxious thoughts! See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me to the way everlasting! Separate me from this world. And may You be pleased by what You see in me. O God give me the motivation that's required for me to be right with You. I don't have it on my own. I can't find it or make it up. I need You more than I'll ever know.

One must turn in confidence to God and His promises, laying aside natural strength.

-gag! I so suck at this! I trust so much in MY ability, intellect, and know-how. My grades. :( Also Nathan and even our finances. Grant that I may confidently look to You alone and trust whole-heartedly in Your promises because You are faithful and because I have nothing to offer. The things I trust in could be gone tomorrow, but You will remain. Strong, steady, true, and loving me all the while.

Unbelief is described as having an uncircumcised heart.

- If I don't "trust and obey" (unbelief) I have an uncircumcised heart. I need You every hour. Stay Thou near by. Temptations loose their power when Thou art neigh!

Jer. 9:26

If personal achievement or ability would not place God (v. 23), neither would outward conformity to the religious rituals. God would punish those circumcised only in the flesh because they were really uncircumcised in heart.

-God we've been talking about this one. Please keep me from going through the motions of doing what I understand as "right" out of fear of punishment or messing up my future/wanting to be the good girl. Give me a deep reverence for You. May the fragrance of my life be pleasing to You because it pours out of a heart that fears You because it knows and loves You.

O that I might have an circumcised heart. Cut the flesh of me and others who call on Your Name. Give us circumcised hearts for Your sake. For our sake.