Proverbs 4:23(NLT) tells us, ““Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” You never really understand the importance of this verse until you actually feel the consequences of doing the opposite of what it says. I’ve been in many positions where I left the gate to my heart wide open. Don’t make the same mistake, for it truly does determine the course of your life; just as God’s Word says. Our hearts can be very deceiving. They can make us feel things that aren’t the truth. You experience emotions in the moment and think you’ve landed in the place you’ve always wanted to be. The wisdom of God’s Word warns to look before we leap. Emotions you feel in the moment are very often without the boundaries of sound judgment. If we’re not careful, the deception of feelings can cause us to make decisions that harm us and change the course of our lives forever.
When it comes to relationships, guarding our hearts is extremely important. Don’t dive in headfirst. Put your feet in the water for a while; see how you like the temperature first. Get to know the person and investigate who they are. Most importantly, give God the time to show you exactly what you’re working with. Honor yourself by understanding that it is a blessing for someone to get to know you, but let God reveal to you whether it will be a blessing for you to get to know them. As a single person seeking to receive the blessing of marriage, you can’t afford to cause harm or to be harmed. There is no need to rush, because patience is a virtue, and never is this truth more affirming than in relationships.
Regarding the promises and statutes of God’s Word, and the miracles He performed, Deuteronomy 4:9(NIV) says, “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” Moses was speaking to God’s people in this verse. It is amazing that he had to warn them repeatedly to stay close to God, because they had seen so many extraordinary miracles performed through God’s power and love for them. They should have been deeply devoted and filled with gratitude, but time after time, they wondered away from God in their hearts. They began to do things that were against God’s Word. In this verse, Moses exhorts them to stay obedient. He urges them not to allow the miraculous things they had witnessed God do for them to fall away from their minds and hearts.
This was a very real danger for those living in Old Testament times, and it is even more so for those of us living today. You and I are responsible for doing what God has commanded in Proverbs 4:23, which is to guard our hearts—to watch what goes in them and watch what comes out of them. We can become very easily dissuaded from the faith and persuaded to do what the devil wants us to do, which is to abdicate the watchfulness of our hearts, so that he can gain access to our lives. If we allow him to swindle us out of the blessings and plans that God has for us, we will pay a price. It can be avoided if we are diligent to obey God’s Word.
Falling for someone is a very enjoyable experience, and we should never forget that God created us with these emotions and feelings, and He wants us to enjoy them. He also wants us to be wise, and to be guided by His Spirit. 2Timothy 1:7(NIV) says, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” Heavenly Father wants us to realize that He didn’t create us to be led by our emotions and feelings. He created us to be led and guided by His Spirit, so we can remain blessed and continually in fellowship with Him.
Before you fall, lookout for those red flags. They may take a while to see, but we deserve to give ourselves time. If you become emotionally invested in someone before you recognize they are not for you, extricating yourself from them can sometimes be very challenging. Avoid this. Guard your heart and listen to God’s Wisdom.
Once you’ve invested time and affection towards someone, you can’t just cut them off because you don’t feel like being bothered anymore. People mean the most to God. As believers, we are never to leave a bad impression of the love of God in Christ. This is one of the reasons we must be so careful and hear from God before we dive into relationships. The price for leaving a person worse off than they were before they met us will not help our efforts to partner well. It will take us further from the blessing we seek. Let’s be prayerful and patient, so we make the right choices and decisions when it comes to relationships. When we depend on God’s leadership and direction, we can be confident that we are choosing well. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Test the Temperature before You Dive in”, written by K. Lizzie, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2021. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.
