Keep thy Heart with All Diligence • Deshen Daily

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23, KJV)

The Lord teaches that the condition of our hearts determines the conditions of our lives. Therefore, He instructs us through Solomon to keep our hearts diligently. But what does this mean, and how do we keep our hearts?

Let’s start with the term “heart.” It’s tempting to bring our New Testament understanding into this verse, especially in charismatic circles, interpreting “heart” as our spirit. But that’s not what Solomon meant. In Proverbs and much of the Hebrew context, “heart” refers to the center of our inner life—our thoughts, emotions, will, and conscience. When the Lord speaks of our hearts here, He means our thoughts, feelings, desires, and motivations.

The phrase “keep… with all diligence” is a Hebrew idiom meaning “more than all guarding,” expressing the idea of guarding with utmost vigilance. The imagery is of a guard, typically a soldier, assigned to protect something or someone. Think of how the Pharisees placed guards around Jesus’ tomb. “Diligence” in the Hebrew refers to a guard(person), while “keep” means to maintain something in safety from harm or danger.

Here are three important implications:

The heart can be attacked and injured. If this weren’t possible, God wouldn’t command us to guard it. People, events, and circumstances can attack and damage our thoughts, emotions, and desires. Bitterness, for example, often results from deep offenses when someone or something deeply hurts us. God says, “guard your emotions.”
Our hearts can be guarded. We can protect our thoughts, emotions, and will from harmful influences. In Colossians 2:8, Paul warns the Colossians to beware of philosophy and deceit that could take them captive. Harmful teachings or theology can destroy people’s thoughts and ruin their faith. So one way to protect our hearts is by being cautious about the teachings we accept, as they can either build or damage us.
The responsibility to guard our hearts is ours. God makes it clear that we play a crucial role. In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul says if we pray instead of worrying, God’s peace will “guard our hearts and minds.” God’s power partners with us—when we take the step to guard our hearts, His power flows to protect us.

So, the Lord’s instruction is: Do not open your heart to allow anything or anyone to harm or hurt your mind, emotions, or desires. Be careful of what you see, what you hear, and how you react to events. Living by God’s Word is the Spirit’s way of helping us. Instead of allowing an event to damage your emotions and cause bitterness, protect your heart—choose to forgive. Avoid watching or listening to things that bring anxiety or fear. Be mindful of friends who provoke ungodly desires or motivations. The list continues. There are practical steps we can take, and the Lord commands us to do everything we can to protect our hearts!