How do you guard your heart?

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Liz01

Guest
#1
#1
In Proverbs 4:23 say "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it"

But i was wondering what does this mean.....how can i guard my heart.....should i close to all the ppl until i know them well....should i open to some ppl only, should i try not to feel or not to share my feelings with someone....or its about of what i feel...because i want to guard my heart, but i dont know what does this mean. :confused:

What do you think? How do you guard your heart?
 
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kayem77

Guest
#2
#2
I THINK it means to protect your heart from sinful behaviors or influences, I don't think it means to close to all peoplee....I'd like to see what others thing about this because I'm not sure....
 
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Tobby17

Guest
#3
#3
Wonderful question, i don't know too, and i neva even thought of it.. I hope to get an answer too..

Maybe it means we shouldn't do things that will corrupt the heart or we should try not to have bad thoughts in our heart.. I dunno:confused:
 
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Aqua_Girl09

Guest
#4
#4
the king james version says Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

i like it that way because i feel like its easier to understand. (my youth leader did a sermon on this and it stuck)

it means that when you open up your heart to people and things that your mind is telling you is wrong you let the issues of life come forth. its hard enough fighting your fleshly wants and desires without adding attachments onto them. guard your heart as in don't give it to just anyone. see if they're worthy of having your heart before you start giving more to them then need be.

and not just people but with things like loving animals. if you know that you can't take care of a dog then don't get attached to the puppy at the shelter. if you know you can't afford to travel the world then why go and buy a bunch of travel magazines. guard your heart from things you know isn't going to end well.
 
damombomb

damombomb

Senior Member
#5
Feb 27, 2011
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#5
If you have knowledge from above,dont share it with people that god is not calling.Lest it turns again and rends you!
Or they yell at you for what you believe.ect..Pray before you just let things out or share, or get a witness in your heart.
 
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niceguyJ

Senior Member
#6
Feb 5, 2011
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#6
I think it basically means just trying to protect yourself from the bad and evil things in the world. Watching what we are listening to, taking in, who we are hanging around with, etc. Perhaps you could reword it to say "Try to keep your heart pure." I usually don't think of that verse as having anything to do with relationships with people. Although, I see how it could apply as we should be careful around people who seek to do evil or harm us. Those people certainly aren't worthy of our trust.
 
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allforfun

Guest
#7
#7
Aqua_Girl09 said:
the king james version says Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

i like it that way because i feel like its easier to understand. (my youth leader did a sermon on this and it stuck)

it means that when you open up your heart to people and things that your mind is telling you is wrong you let the issues of life come forth. its hard enough fighting your fleshly wants and desires without adding attachments onto them. guard your heart as in don't give it to just anyone. see if they're worthy of having your heart before you start giving more to them then need be.

and not just people but with things like loving animals. if you know that you can't take care of a dog then don't get attached to the puppy at the shelter. if you know you can't afford to travel the world then why go and buy a bunch of travel magazines. guard your heart from things you know isn't going to end well.
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That existence sounds dull though. Why bother dreaming, or planning for a better future if you can't having something fun in sight?

I agree with protecting our hearts, but I refuse to live in a bubble because I might get hurt. I'd rather be hurt than never have tried.
 
zeroturbulence

zeroturbulence

Senior Member
#8
Aug 2, 2009
24,653
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#8
I wish I knew the answer to this question because I think my heart's been jaded by some of the things that have happened in my past, and it has produced in me a side of myself that I don't like.
 
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AnandaHya

Guest
#9
#9
zeroturbulence said:
I wish I knew the answer to this question because I think my heart's been jaded by some of the things that have happened in my past, and it has produced in me a side of myself that I don't like.
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you give it to Jesus and trust that He will lead you and protect you and heal you of any pain or brokenness you feel inside. try and surround yourself with people who reflect the light of Jesus in your life and the lives of those around you with peaceful fruit of righteousness and maturity of walking in the Spirit. thank God for the many blessings in life and seek His will and Kingdom and all else will be added. by living a life as a man of God, people get attracted to the light that shines through your words, actions and love for others. Eventually God will place in your life a person who you can be a helpmate and companion on this road of life. Faith in Jesus trust in His promises and honesty with yourself and why you want to harden your heart to the world and asking God to heal you and help you learn to love others as He loves you and maybe when that lesson is learned or to help you learn it God will send one to show you what it means to really love another unconditionally.

sorry for the rant. i'm going to duck out of this forum now.....
 
zeroturbulence

zeroturbulence

Senior Member
#10
Aug 2, 2009
24,653
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#10
AnandaHya said:
you give it to Jesus and trust that He will lead you and protect you and heal you of any pain or brokenness you feel inside. try and surround yourself with people who reflect the light of Jesus in your life and the lives of those around you with peaceful fruit of righteousness and maturity of walking in the Spirit. thank God for the many blessings in life and seek His will and Kingdom and all else will be added. by living a life as a man of God, people get attracted to the light that shines through your words, actions and love for others. Eventually God will place in your life a person who you can be a helpmate and companion on this road of life. Faith in Jesus trust in His promises and honesty with yourself and why you want to harden your heart to the world and asking God to heal you and help you learn to love others as He loves you and maybe when that lesson is learned or to help you learn it God will send one to show you what it means to really love another unconditionally.

sorry for the rant. i'm going to duck out of this forum now.....
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No need to duck out of the forum. If it was pain and brokenness that I was feeling that would be great advice. In my case it is a distrust of others and a sensitivity to rude behavior that I struggle with.
 
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Crazylove

Guest
#11
#11
Seeds are planted in the heart by what you see, hear, and say. So to be guarding your heart would be like being watchful of what you see, hear, and say. If it want help you with your relationship with the Lord, then be careful because bad seeds can also grow(their usually very sneaky)and harm your growth in the Lord.
 
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Crazylove

Guest
#12
#12
Everything you think and do starts with your heart(what you see, hear, and say).
 
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Jullianna

Guest
#13
#13
Liz01 said:
In Proverbs 4:23 say "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it"

But i was wondering what does this mean.....how can i guard my heart.....should i close to all the ppl until i know them well....should i open to some ppl only, should i try not to feel or not to share my feelings with someone....or its about of what i feel...because i want to guard my heart, but i dont know what does this mean. :confused:

What do you think? How do you guard your heart?
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Luke 6:45 - A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Phillipians 4:8 - Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.


Junk in = junk out.

From a relationships standpoint, it would be very easy to shut down and hide to keep from getting hurt, but God makes good come from even our pain. Some things are worth the risk.

Romans 8:28 - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Nice thread, Ms Liz :)
 
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hikerki

Guest
#15
#15
Aqua_Girl09 said:
guard your heart as in don't give it to just anyone. see if they're worthy of having your heart before you start giving more to them then need be.
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Love this verse :) What aqua_girl said here is one of the ways I look at it. I also agree with many other posts. It is not only for relationship (romantic or friendship), but also for our lives all around. We want to have pure hearts. Keep ourselves from being filled with corruption. The condition of our hearts is directly reflected in how we live our lives.
 
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karine___

Guest
#16
#16
i think it means acquiring discernment and sound judgement to apply to every situation to "test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will" .
 
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Liz01

Guest
#17
#17
Jullianna said:
Luke 6:45 - A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Phillipians 4:8 - Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.


Junk in = junk out.

From a relationships standpoint, it would be very easy to shut down and hide to keep from getting hurt, but God makes good come from even our pain. Some things are worth the risk.

Romans 8:28 - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Nice thread, Ms Liz :)
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Thanks! this make me see more clear how to guard my heart :)
 
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AnandaHya

Guest
#18
#18
zeroturbulence said:
No need to duck out of the forum. If it was pain and brokenness that I was feeling that would be great advice. In my case it is a distrust of others and a sensitivity to rude behavior that I struggle with.
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yeah I don't like rude behavior, it tempts me to reacting to the same way and being rude back but I normally do the excessively sweet route instead. the people who really know me can tell when I don't like someone because i try to be extra nice in hopes that the person can not tell that I'm having thoughts about doing seriously unpleasant things to them.

then I feel guilty for my mean thoughts and have to pray for myself and them and tend to avoid them afterwards.

I wouldn''t ever date them because I would hate the idea of procreating with someone who was so rude and would teach my kids the same thing.

the distrust of others?

I used to have a problem with that when I focused on all the bad things they did to me or kept track of all the hurtful things people did.

however, it toke me a while and I still forget at times but I learned a hard lesson that if you look for bad things you will find them, but if you look for good things and see the good in people life is so much more pleasant.

I try and see not only who the person is right now, or what they did in the past but the potentional of who they could be in the future.

I work with high school kids and my friends tell me I day dream alot but sometimes I will sit there and think about the future. how these kids if they wanted to could change the world. how it took only one person to do many things. that you never know what a lump of mud can become in a potter's hand or what a unique lost soul can grow into in the Hands of our Heavenly Father.

so I guess I don't just trust in the person, but in faith that if God wanted He could heal and help anyone I was to encounter to become a person worth trusting. meanwhile I try and forgive them when they hurt me and show them that no matter what God loves them and because of that I will try my best to love them too. However I do draw the line when they become abusive, step over boundaries, or indulge in behavior that is harmful for themselves or others. Sometimes you have to love people from a distance and pray for them from a distance too.


if that makes any sense. lol sorry lack of sleep makes the words start crossing..
 
zeroturbulence

zeroturbulence

Senior Member
#19
Aug 2, 2009
24,653
4,316
113
#19
AnandaHya said:
the people who really know me can tell when I don't like someone because i try to be extra nice in hopes that the person can not tell that I'm having thoughts about doing seriously unpleasant things to them.

then I feel guilty for my mean thoughts and have to pray for myself and them and tend to avoid them afterwards..
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That is what some of my favorite saints did.

(and I don't worship them, people!)
 
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GreenNnice

Guest
#20
#20
Liz01 said:
In Proverbs 4:23 say "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it"

But i was wondering what does this mean.....how can i guard my heart.....should i close to all the ppl until i know them well....should i open to some ppl only, should i try not to feel or not to share my feelings with someone....or its about of what i feel...because i want to guard my heart, but i dont know what does this mean. :confused:

What do you think? How do you guard your heart?
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Proverbs is filled with words that can be applied to our lives . I think this particular sentence means that we need to be watchful of everything around us, all the time. 'Course, we need help to protect our heart and here is one way how, per Ephesians: Put on the full armor of God.

And, we can't be expected , as humans, to protect our hearts all the time, our sinful nature does get in the way, so...that is where God's helper given us- the holy Spirit comes in.
:)
God bless , lizzytheone
 
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