“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life.”
Proverbs 4:23
“A good heart is worth gold.”
Shakespeare
“In each human heart is a tiger, a pig, an ass and a nightingale. Diversity of character is due to their unequal activity.”
Ambrose Bierce
“The heart of man is his worst part before it is regenerated, and the best afterward; it is the seat of principles, and the foundation of actions. The eye of God is, and the eye of the Christian ought to be, principally fixed upon it.
The greatest difficulty in conversion is to win the heart to God, and the greatest difficulty after conversion, is to keep the heart with God. Here lies the very force and stress of religion; here is that which make the way to life a narrow way, and the gate to heaven a strait gate. …we may as well be our own saviours as our own keepers; …the keeping and right managing of the heart in every condition, is one great business of a Christian’s life.”
John Flavel
The weightiness of this crucible matter lies in the truthfulness of this thought: “for out of it springs the issues of life.” The heart is the fountain of life and the spring of all motivation, intention and actions. The mastery of the heart is the master of all affairs of life.
The greatest watch in prayer is to become the watchman of the heart. Take diligent care of the heart and the rest will take care of itself. “Whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple: “then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart you know (for Your alone know the hearts of all the sons of men).” (1 Kings 8:38-39)
Do not allow the hidden plagues of your heart to sow mischief and wild oats in our lives.
“The heart of man is the seed-plot of iniquity and the nursery of transgression.”
Charles Spurgeon
The careless heart is a easy prey to satan in the hour of temptation. If the devil managed to penetrate the veil of the heart through his wicked devices, he shall commands the whole man. Never spare your efforts in dealing strongly with any symptoms of carditis (inflammation of the heart) by reigning supremely over the tyrannical passions of the soul.
Incline your heart to ravish lavishly upon the matchless delight of God. The holy affection of the heart then shall gain ascendancy over every spiritual weakness of the soul thereby His grace shall sweeten the embittered spirit and soothed every despondency of the soul. Maintain a prayerful frame of heart in the intervals of duty. In recapitulation: study your hearts, watch your hearts, and keep your hearts!
“Lose your head and you lose the battle. Lose your heart and you have lost all.”
Charles Spurgeon
The final words of the Roman emperor Valentinian on his deathbed, “Amongst all my conquests, there is but one that now comforts me. I have overcome my worst enemy, my own sinful heart!”
“O righteous Lord, purify all our inwardness that through the innocency and uprightness of our heart, you shall be our guide and defence in this life. May love dwell in us and reign in us. Help us in all things reflect the light which we receive from him.” (Jeremiah 20:12; Psalm 7:9-10)
