Watch Over Your Heart With all Diligence

Taken on our last Israel tour (2019) in Caesarea

One of the things I have experienced during our “Covid break” is that people have felt quite free to criticize me, saying untrue and hurtful words. There have been days when I have experienced up to three of these types of verbal attacks - and I step back and scratch my head. Because it has been happening so frequently to me, I’m guessing perhaps you might be experiencing this as well.

I believe everyone is on edge because of the coronavirus shutdown. Things take longer and are harder to do; even getting groceries is now an ordeal. Planning a nice time with a friend is a challenge. Lines are longer everywhere and standing outside waiting your turn in the hot sun is frustrating. Not knowing when things will ever return to “normal” leaves us feeling unsteady. This leaves people frustrated and short tempered, and apparently lacking self-control with their words. You are definitely not alone in your feelings.

A verse came to mind as I thought about how I might protect myself from the daggers that keep hitting me: “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23. God keeps putting this verse in front of me, so I have taken the time to ponder and unpack it.

The Complete Jewish Bible translates the verse to read: “Above everything else, guard your heart; for it is the source of life’s consequences.” “Above everything else” sounds stronger, more important, than just “watch over with diligence” or as some translations say, “guard.” This sounds like God is telling us that this is important. It should be a priority for us. We are to pay attention to this. Our hearts are involved, and He cares about our hearts.

The Hebrew word for heart is “Libi”, or in this verse, your heart would be leebecha and translates “very widely used for feelings, the will and even the intellect, the center of anything.” So, the heart is really the center of who we are.

In the original Hebrew, the word “springs” is actually “issues” or “outgoings.”  Because my mind is always focused on places in Israel, I thought about the Gihon Springs in Jerusalem. It was the very center of the city and the springs nourished all of the City (outgoings). If the springs dried up, it would devastate all Jerusalem. So it is with us. If our heart, the very center of our being, is attacked, we take a chance of allowing ourselves to become dried up and devastated, and that would, in turn, affect all of those who are near to us.

What I believe this one powerful and important verse is telling us is that we are to pay attention! Above all else, we are to pay attention and guard the center of our very being. If we don’t, what comes back out of us is unhealthy and can hurt ourselves more, as well as hurt others.

In context, Proverbs 4 is talking about listening and protecting our heart. You could look at it two ways. One is to protect your heart by not DOING evil. Another is about protecting your heart from bad things that come in, or to keep away from wickedness and evil.

Practically, how do we do this? It is obvious how to protect ourselves from getting involved or toying with wickedness. But how do we begin to protect ourselves from evil coming into our lives or from someone hurting us? Sometimes it just comes from left field, right?

For me, when I am first spoken to harshly or being falsely accused, one of the things I am trying to do is, obviously, pray. I keep ruminating about the wrong in my head - and my heart hurts. But it is a good reminder to let that ruminating trigger you to pray. I pray for wisdom. I pray for emotional healing. Only God can do that. I pray for the offender. Then, I carefully plan (when appropriate) a defense explaining that I am not the person you just accused me of being. I try to be gentle and kind. I reread what I have written three times! If you are going to be with the person soon, it is always best to do this face-to-face, but your face must show love and concern - not contempt.

The reason for the defense is to let others know how their words affect you. They really may not be aware.  It seems during this period of time, everyone is upset, uneasy, on edge - and they blurt things out without thinking. We all need to be careful about the words that come out of our mouths. Words can cut to the core of a person’s heart.

As we think about guarding our own hearts, it is important to show others the same grace that we expect in return.  We all make mistakes. We all hurt. Grace is what God has extended to us, and we need to mirror His example as we show grace to others.

In summary, God is saying in effect – listen up! This is important. Above all else, guard your heart/mind. Do it diligently. Your heart is important to God. Protect it. Take care of it. When you are hurt, take your hurt to Him. Then, gently and lovingly, let others know how their words/actions hurt you. Then show all the grace that your Messiah shows you. Out of your heart flow the springs of life itself.