Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. – Proverbs 4:23 What is your first thought in the morning? What is the last thought before you fall asleep at night? These thoughts flow from the deepest part of who you are—your heart. Your heart reveals your true identity and becomes the source of everything that shapes your life.
The Heart as a Spring of Life
When the book of Proverbs was written, springs were a vital source of water. In today’s world of plumbing and water treatment, it can be harder to grasp this image. Yet the picture is clear: just as a spring provides fresh water, our lives flow from what is deep within our hearts. Our thoughts, attitudes, and emotions all bubble up from who we are inside.
What Flows from the Heart
If our first thoughts each day are centered on ourselves, then selfishness will flow out in our words and actions. If our love is set on money, success, or recognition, then those desires will guide our choices. Whatever holds the focus of our hearts will eventually overflow into our lives.
Turning Our Hearts Toward God
But imagine the difference when our first thought in the morning is to thank God for a new day. What if our love is directed toward Him and toward others? What if we fall asleep with His presence on our minds and live with a passion to please our Savior? When our hearts are set on God, His love and goodness will naturally spring out from us.
It All Comes from the Heart
Our lives are shaped by what fills our hearts. When God is at the center, the flow of our thoughts, words, and actions reflects His love and brings life to those around us. It all begins with the heart.