Read:
Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Think:
Although the human heart is basically a pump that maintains the circulation of blood in the body, we still speak metaphorically of it as the place from which love and deep feelings come. To the Hebrew way of thinking, the heart was the center of feelings, intellect, and will. The Greeks used the word heart to mean the part of our being where we desire, deliberate, and decide. The Romans, in Latin, spoke of the kardia (heart), meaning the place where thoughts and feelings of the soul and mind reside.
Once God has changed our hearts, how do we keep them in good health? Just as we carefully eat what we do, knowing it might affect our physical heart, so we keep our spiritual hearts healthy by watching what we allow into our lives.
For many, the Christian life is about behavioral change. It’s just doing the right things and avoiding the wrong ones. Not only is that ineffective, it misses the point. Our actions aren’t the problem; our hearts longing for something other than God is the root issue.
Jesus would tell Tiger to turn his heart toward him. He would tell him that the journey to find meaning and purpose in life begins with the heart. Woods must guard his heart above all else, for it is the wellspring of life. Whatever fills his heart will shape his thoughts, guide his actions, and determine his destiny.
Apply:
To guard your heart, make Jesus your first priority. Diligently monitor what you allow into your thoughts and meditations.
Pray:
Heavenly Father, as I go about my day, I pray that you would illuminate my path and show me the way I should walk. Reveal yourself to me in all moments both great and small. Remind me of your presence and power. In Jesus’ name, Amen.