My One Word 2019 – Guard your heart – Prov 4:23

Proverbs 4:23 English Standard Version (ESV)
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.

From January 2015 –

I was given a suggestion – one little word. Based upon Ali Edwards’ One Little Word. (scrapbooking focused)
…
Another friend recommended the site My One Word for those that don’t scrapbook.

The word was prepare – as in faithfully prepare. I wrote a lot.

In 2017 the word was teach me to number my days – Psalm 90:12
Again, I wrote a lot.

In 2018, I gave up on getting a word! Be Like Jesus was the focus. I didn’t write as much specifically on my one word, but I wrote in Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and led a Roman’s Bible Study – so, I think that those things added up to getting into that focus!

This year, as usual, I didn’t get a word…I got a verse, or a phrase (Be Like Jesus is very much the whole Bible!)

Proverbs 4:23 English Standard Version (ESV)
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.

This is one time that I did play around with different versions.
The Bible Hub makes it so easy! Proverbs 4:23

Young’s Literal translation says it this way:

Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it are the outgoings of life.

Break it down.
KEEP YOUR HEART
Keep your heart is translated as guard mostly.
Watch is also used.
One version specifically says with all watchfulness.

Thanks to Blue Letter Bible,
The KJV translates Strong’s H5341 in the following manner: keep (38x), preserve (13x), watchmen (3x), besieged (2x), keeper (1x), monuments (1x), observe (with H7521) (1x), preserver (1x), subtil (1x), hidden things (1x), watchers (1x).

Outline of Bible usage:
to guard, watch, watch over, keep
(Qal)
to watch, guard, keep
to preserve, guard from dangers
to keep, observe, guard with fidelity
to guard, keep secret
to be kept close, be blockaded
watchman (participle)

You see, I’m no Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek scholar – I’m dependent upon Strong’s Concordance.
My point of view is that God will let me see what I need to know about the verses I’m studying.
In my language.
Isn’t that what Wycliff, Guttenburg, Tyndale and Luther wanted? It was their passion, and in many cases, the death of them.
For your enjoyment, here’s a great summary of how we got the Bible in English! English Bible History by Greatsite.

Men were hunted and killed for wanting to give us the Bible in common language. That’s pretty serious! We need to respect the seriousness of their work, their passion, and their gift to us who follow!

Even in the midst of the enemy’s desire to destroy God’s word, God insisted that the Bible live on, and protected the work of the men that gave their lives to translate for the common/indigenous peoples…the first being the very ones attending the churches! The first indigenous bibles were in German, English, and other such languages that were common, not limited to those scholars and priests, in the ivory towers and cathedrals.

It’s possible that the first protest…as in protestant…was to read the Bible for themselves!

Guard my heart – I want to dig into the words, because I want to know a bit more about the words!
Why?
Well, I believe everything started with a word (phrase, actually)

Genesis 1:3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Jesus is the Word…and was there in the beginning!

John 1:1-3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Prologue
1 In the beginning was the Word,[a]
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 All things were created through Him,
and apart from Him not one thing was created
that has been created.

To be like Jesus, I need to know Jesus more.
Jesus is the incarnation of God the Father, and the way that God made for me to KNOW Him better.
The Holy Spirit is the indwelling person of the Godhead. To know Him, I need to spend time with Him.

And the way to do that is through the WORD of God!

Psalm 119:11 King James Version (KJV)
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Yes, Be like Jesus was “so last year!”
Seriously, which phrase/word actually has only a year’s worth of application?

Teach me to number my days…why?

Psalm 90:12 King James Version (KJV)
12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Be Like Jesus – is there a verse for that?

John 13:15 King James Version (KJV)
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Prepare? I found plenty of content for preparing the way for the Lord!

Mark 1:3 King James Version (KJV)
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

The first part was to mind the foundations.

I will confess, looking over the previous years One Word posts is very convicting.
But I have to guard my heart.
I tend to fall into condemnation.

Romans 8:1 King James Version (KJV)
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The truth is, though I sometimes have trouble seeing it in myself, I desire to walk after the Spirit!
I desire to grow fruit!

Galatians 5:22-25 King James Version (KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

My heart’s desire is that I would live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit! God gives me a promise in Psalm 37!
Specifically:

Psalm 37:3-7 King James Version (KJV)
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Isn’t that beautiful? The whole Psalm is so comforting.

Guarding my heart is a verb, an action.
So are these:

  • trust in the Lord
  • do good
  • delight in the Lord
  • commit thy way to the Lord
  • trust, again…
  • rest in the Lord
  • wait patiently

These are key activities to guarding my heart and being watchful!

Walking and living in the Spirit will keep my heart! Guard my heart.

Some companion verses to drill this home for me:

Proverbs 22:5 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
5 There are thorns and snares on the path of the crooked;
the one who guards himself stays far from them.

And to be sure that I don’t trust in my own heart:

Jeremiah 17:9 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Deceitful Heart
9 The heart is more deceitful than anything else,
and incurable—who can understand it?

Proverbs 28:26 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
26 The one who trusts in himself[a] is a fool,
but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.

Bible Gateway has a collection of references to loving the Lord with all my heart.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Matthew 22:37-40; Mark 12:30-31; Luke 10:27

The ten commandments, rolled up into two – and the first is so foundational to the second:

Luke 10:27 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
27 He answered:
Love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind;
and your neighbor
as yourself.

Praise Break!

Today, I was listening to my youtube channel on Grounding Worship, and I heard “Come thou fount”. This is Jim’s favorite hymn.

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
Here’s my heart Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

Chris Tomlin has such a great way of honoring the great hymns with something new!

I wanted to find the history of this hymn, and through much searching, found a blog by Stephanie that talked about her desire to know more about this hymn as well…and she led me to a new resource, Wordwise Hymns, and the information on Robert Robinson, the author of Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.

Guard my heart….

Proverbs 4:20-22 King James Version (KJV)
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

Psalm 40:8 KJV
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

and again:

Psalm 119:11 King James Version (KJV)
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

This year, I plan to surround myself with His word…to drive it deeper and deeper still into my heart, and renew my mind!

Romans 12:2 KJV
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Colossians 3:10KJV
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

The next part of the verse is with all diligence/ vigilence, utmost care and above all else.
It is serious.
It is to be done intentionally.
I’m going to study that the next time!

https://youtu.be/wCYOpAfo61E

One last thing to share…I created a bracelet to remind me of this year’s focus.
The heart has “life” inscribed on it.
The round charm says Pr 4:23.

 

I think I have my work cut out for me! I’m so grateful that God has my back, and as long as this is the desire of my heart, He will give this to me! I’m committing my way to His grace, mercy, and guidance!

My prayer:

Psalm 51:10 KJV
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Do you have a word for this year? Share it with me!

Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

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