The BattleSample

Guard Your Heart

By Amy Cook

In an age when people are consumed with television and the Internet, Psalm 101 has become increasingly relevant. In Psalm 101:2b–3a (AMP) David said, “I will walk within my house in integrity and with a blameless heart. I will set no base or wicked thing before my eyes.” A few verses later he said, “He who works deceit shall not dwell in my house; he who tells lies shall not continue in my presence” (Psalm 101:7, AMP). While most Christians would never consciously invite the enemy into their homes, many allow him to repeatedly infiltrate their homes through the guise of entertainment. Indulging in unhealthy media choices is like eating unhealthy food: garbage in, garbage out. If you want your soul to be strong and healthy, you need to guard your heart by being selective about what you feed it.

You can also guard your heart by being more selective about what you listen to. In Psalm 101:5 (NCV), David said, “If anyone secretly says things against his neighbor, I will stop him. I will not allow people to be proud and look down on others.” David deliberately refused to listen to gossip, and his son, Solomon, followed that example. In the book of Proverbs, Solomon issued the same warning twice: “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly” (Proverbs 18:8; 26:22, KJV). By guarding your ears, you protect yourself from unnecessary wounds.

Another effective way to guard your heart is to resist taking offense and to be quick in forgiving others. Paul warned believers in Ephesus against letting the devil gain a foothold in their lives because of anger, and he encouraged them to be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving (Ephesians 4:26–32). Hebrews 12:14–15 (MSG) says, “Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. … Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time.” Holding onto an offense is like foolishly rushing right into the enemy’s camp. Not only will you become a casualty, but you will also be powerless to rescue others.

When God created the Garden of Eden, He put Adam and Eve in the midst of it to cultivate it and care for it (Genesis 2:15). As a believer, God has planted a different type of garden inside of you that you must care for and cultivate (Ezekiel 36:26–27). This garden, watered by the wellspring of the Holy Spirit, is where you meet with God so that your life can bear good fruit.

During both World Wars, individuals contributed to the war effort by planting “victory gardens” and sharing its produce with others. Nurturing a victory garden within your own heart is essential to effectively engage in spiritual warfare. When you cultivate good seed in your heart, you won’t produce bad fruit in your life. Instead, you’ll produce the fruit of God’s Spirit, and His words of living water will flow out of your mouth to cleanse and refresh others.

Memory Verse

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 (KJV)