Did you know that there is a battle raging over your heart?
Jesus said, “‘Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things’” (Matthew 12:34-35, NKJV). The Savior’s heart analysis helps you see why the writer of Proverbs cautions you to “keep your heart with all diligence.” Both good and evil are born there, and the battle to preserve the good and defeat the evil is lifelong.
“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil” (Proverbs 4:23-27, NKJV).
We can never win that battle on our own. The larger message of the gospel is that Jesus’ death and resurrection opened a way for us to receive a “heart transplant.” Accepting Christ as Savior is the first and necessary step to life transformation. Living as a follower of Christ, you can apply these specific guidelines from Proverbs. When you serve the One who identified himself as Truth, you can “put away…a deceitful mouth.” Just as your Savior defeated Satan’s temptations in the wilderness, you can “remove your foot from evil.”
Your commitment to serve God is not a lonely journey that depends on your own strength. He will help you, He will bring fellow warrior believers alongside you, and His Word contains a wealth of guidance to lead you along the way.
The content of this article comes from “The Warrior’s Bible” (2014) and is copyrighted by Life Publishers International. Used with permission.
