Heeeyyyyy!! Happy May everyone! It is almost summer and that means it is time to rest and recharge. I personally cannot wait for a little downtime! A few months ago, I was studying some scriptures and came across a particular one that I needed to dive more deeply into. I believe that it can assist us all as we navigate life, relationships, and friendships.

The scripture I’d like to share with you this month is Proverbs 4:23. The New Living Translation version says, “Guard your heart above all else; for it determines the course of your life.” I really love the depth of The Passion Translation though; It says “So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, from there flows the wellspring of your life.” This scripture is very intentional about guarding our heart, but let’s go dictionary! You know I love definitions!

What is the heart? Of course, we know that medically it is the central part of our bodies. It is what keeps us alive. However, I looked up the definition of heart and it is also our personality or disposition, our emotional or moral nature as distinguished from the intellectual nature. It is one’s innermost character, feelings, or inclinations. It is also an essential or most vital part of something. Now, what does it mean to guard? The definition of guard is to watch over in order to protect or control, to protect against harm or danger. But why would we need to guard our hearts?

For starters, our heart is valuable, just as our heart organ is to our bodies. Also, the Bible tells us in Jeremiah 17:4(NLT) “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; Who can understand it?” This tells us that our hearts have a natural inclination to be sick and deceitful. We were born in sin, shaped in iniquity, so we naturally lean towards sin. ALL of us! Proverbs 4:23 gives us hope and instruction. It tells us to guard our hearts, because that keeps us from falling into those desires and inclinations to do things contrary to God’s standard. We should guard our hearts because it drives our mind, will, and emotions. Our heart encompasses our thoughts, actions, and reactions. It helps us to respond well and keeps offense out so that we hear clearly and in turn speak from a place of purity.

So how do we guard our heart? First, we have to heal it. Listen, life be life-ing! Our life experiences can alter the way we see, hear, perceive, and form habits. We have to be intentional about taking time to challenge our thoughts and beliefs. That is a different level of maturity when you can call yourself out! It is painful, but we have to challenge our norm. It could be from our culture, the culture of our families, our traumas, and dysfunctions. Every fruit has a root, and we must have to have the determination and tenacity to uproot those things that we see are not conducive to the health of our heart. When we get to a place of healing, naturally we want to protect that healing. This is where we learn the value of setting healthy boundaries. We start monitoring who we allow in our space, things we entertain, how we hear and speak, and what deserves our energy.

It is so important to remember that there is a difference between guarding our hearts and building walls around our hearts. To me, guarding means setting boundaries. When you build walls, it is a defense mechanism. As I was looking at the definition of boundaries and walls, the difference is that a wall is a barrier, and a boundary is a beginning. When we build walls around our hearts because of life’s experiences, our desire is to keep healthy people, relationships, and ideologies far away from us. When walls are erected, nothing can come in to rescue us and we feel like we cannot see beyond the toxicity of the natural inclination of our deceitful hearts. This promotes isolation, and we can do damage when we are alone with our own thoughts, feelings, and emotions! It is so important to have those around us that can hold us accountable for the health of our hearts.

So how will you choose to guard your heart? What areas do you need to heal in order to see clearly? What needs to be uprooted for the health of your heart and mind? What healthy boundaries do you need to set in order to protect this new space? Listen, it is hard to set boundaries as you get to different levels of healing. You will have to offend people, and you will experience grief as you release your mentality and surrender to a healthier way of life. You will have to teach people how to approach you at the different stages of healing, and you learn the meaning of the phrase “Yesterday’s price is not today’s price.” That means that what used to be ok with the old me will be challenged by this healthier version. Where I used to have walls, there are now perfectly curated boundaries that will release things that are not conducive to the healed version of me, without notice. People can definitely see your growth in just the way you carry yourself. Be aware though, sometimes your growth convicts others without you saying a word! Pastor Mike McClure Jr. says “Healing yourself can be offensive to people that benefited from your brokenness” As I have said before, “Some people like you better broken, it makes their broken look healthy.” By any means necessary, heal your heart and protect that healing, because it shapes our lives.

Father, I thank you for your word of truth. I thank you for the provision and wisdom you have given us to know that our heart has to be protected. I ask that you heal the heart of every person that encounters this blog. Show us our areas of opportunity for healing. Help us to dig deep to find the root of those things. Father, protect us as we heal and guard our hearts as only you can until we can stand on our own. We thank you for divinely orchestrated encounters with those that can aid us in that healing process–vessels in the earth with grace and patience from you that can nurture us as we heal and grow. We thank you for allowing us to set healthy boundaries instead of building walls. Allow us to have the discernment from you on those that can remain close to witness the healing as a mentoring opportunity only, and those that belong in our lives for various reasons. Lead and guide us in your ways and allow our hearts of stone to be made into hearts of flesh as you promised. We love you, adore you, and honor you. Amen!

PS: Don’t forget to purchase your copy of my new book “A Beautiful Journey” from Amazon.com!!