“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23 We’ve believed for the longest time that our hearts are evil so we view this Scripture as, “Watch out for the evil inside of you.” We aren’t commanded to watch our hearts like it’s a criminal or something. We are commanded to guard our hearts because it the “wellspring of life.” This means that good flows out of it and it is a treasure. How often do we actually think about putting our hearts above all else though? Here’s more like our thought process. “I have a test in Biology on Monday, this thing for student council in the afternoon, to cook for the family tonight, and American Idol to watch.” When do we ever take the time to stop and take time off for our hearts? Sure we’re given vacations, but how often do we actually use those to rest? Most of the time we spend our days off doing something fun, but we’re just as worn out before the vacation as after it.
“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart…For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45 Do our spiritual lives seem like an overflow very often? Most of the time we just feel kind of like a canal. Our walk with God is good for awhile and is sufficient, but then we run dry. The reason why we feel like this is because we aren’t nourishing our hearts. How would you live differently if you believed your heart was the treasure of the kingdom? Don’t just absently read over that because I can’t emphasize this enough. Pray about this, right now. Your heart IS the treasure of God’s kingdom. God’s glory is man fully alive and this is revealed through our hearts.
“Has it ever occurred to you that God is such a loving and generous person because his heart is filled, like a reservoir, with joy? It is because his heart is brimming with good things and experiences that God is able to love and forgive and suffer so long for mankind. The same holds true for us. Are you a delight to be with after an hour in traffic? No wonder we are so short on grace and mercy. Life drains us dry—and we just accept it as the normal way to live.”
The reason why we have to love our own hearts is because that is how we begin to love others. What will you bring to other people if your heart is empty, dried up, pinned down? How you handle your own heart will determine how you handle another person’s heart too. I’ve thought for the longest time that I’m really hard on myself and not so much with others, but that’s a lie. Even if you try to be merciful towards others while we neglect or beat ourselves, they can see how we treat our own hearts, and they will feel that same treatment for themselves even if you try to act otherwise. People have made excuses for their actions by saying, “I’m taking care of my heart.” Divorces and affairs are justified this way. Some pretty terrible things have been done in the name of Christianity, but should that stop you from being a Christian? Don’t let others’ bad choices shape your life. Care for your heart. Above all else. You aren’t doing this for yourself, you’re doing it in order to love better-for those who need you because now is the most desperate time to love.
Caring for your heart is how you protect your relationship with God because it is the place where He dwells inside of us. This is where we can hear His voice. Many Christians have never heard God speak to them because they live far from their hearts and practice the Christianity of principles. Then they wonder why God seems so distant and conclude that all that intimacy stuff isn’t for them. I’ll ask you one last time: How would you live differently if you believed your heart was the treasure of the kingdom? What is it that your heart needs? This will be different for every person, obviously. For some people it’s music; for others reading; for still others playing sports. There are some needs that all hearts have in common too. We need beauty and that’s why God created such a beautiful world around us in music, nature, art, in a great meal shared.
We need silence and solitude. Often. In Mark 1, Jesus got up early and went alone to pray. When He returned the disciples exclaimed that everybody was looking for Him. Jesus replied to them that they should go elsewhere. That’s something we may find really odd, but Jesus recognized that we needed alone time to get intimate with God. That was also completely unexpected! Here was a chance for Jesus to increase his sale pitch if you will. Everybody was looking for Him and He wanted to get away? Jesus refused to live and operate under people’s expectations and we tend to live our whole lives doing that. When we do that, our hearts are always the first thing to go. So I’ll ask you again. What does your heart need? Pray about it. Ask God what He has for your heart because it is precious to Him. Satan is going to try and give you a rough time when you try and make time for your heart. Lies will start popping up. There are so many more important things to do. You can get into it some other time. You’re being selfish. This isn’t even what you want, anyway. He fears your heart coming alive and full and free. Caring for your heart is an act of obedience, love, faith, and an act of war.
The heart that is weak is vulnerable. Are you able to fend off attacks after you are wiped out from a long week? The holidays can be a bit draining too. The first strike against us is to rob us of our hearts to fight against the Enemy. A sense of being overwhelmed or tired comes up and that’s when we have to be ready. We get too busy, we don’t care for ourselves, and we lose heart. Be kind to yourself. Take care of your heart. You’re going to need it. “We are now going to war. This is the beginning of the end. The hour is late, and you are needed. We need your heart.”
I challenge you to read the battle of Helm’s Deep or watch any of the trilogy movies or the opening of Gladiator. That is where we are now. We are far into a battle which will require our fellow Christians and our hearts. Grab everything God sends you. You’ll need everything in order to see with the eyes of your heart. “And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:19 We are the light in the dark place. Dawn is going to break and the morning star will rise in our hearts.
Thank you for taking the time to read these blogs. I just want to point out again that the main ideas come from the book “Waking the Dead” by John Eldredge. I highly recommend this book and reading it for yourself. It’s been a rollercoaster ride for me personally writing these with everything I have going on. It’s taken me a long time to digest everything I’ve read and I’m just now starting to realize the importance of what I wrote about on here. If you have any prayer requests or anything you need to talk about or discuss, please let me know.
I’ve talked a lot about your heart in these blogs because I’ve come to realize that we, as Christians in today’s society, have lost heart. We don’t love ourselves or others enough and we feel lost because of it. If there is anything that I could emphasize is that you should take care of your heart. Love it. Nurture it. Don’t give it away. It’s the thing God treasure’s most and we should do so also. Fight for your friends’ hearts as well because we all need help at some time or another. Search for those friendships that transcend the mundane and get real. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
In Love,
Bill Bouillon
