"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8

Last week we saw that Scripture describes the heart of the regenerate (those who believe that Jesus, the Christ, is the unique Son of God) as contrite, enlightened, meditating, pure, prayerful, glad, sincere, steadfast, tender, wise, a treasury for good.

And what are the results of a believing heart?
"...if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; For with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting salvation." Romans 10:9-10

We were reminded in Proverbs 4:23,
"Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life."

How do we keep (or guard, as some Translations say) our hearts?
Proverbs 4:24-27 tells us by:
Vs. 24 Guarding the mouth:
"Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you."

Proverbs 13:3 tells us,
"He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction"

We see that Proverbs 21:23 tells us,
"Whoever guards his mouth and tongue,
Keeps his soul from troubles."

And King David asks the Lord in Psalm 141:3, "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips."

Vs. 25 Guarding the eyes:
"Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you."

Looking backwards arrests progress--Jesus said to one, 'Follow Me', but first he wanted to do something else, then Luke 9:62 tells us, "But Jesus said to him, 'No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Looking Christward, saves:
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; That whoever believes may in Him have eternal life." John 3:14-15

Looking at difficulties, depresses--Peter's walking (sinking) on water is a good example for not taking your eyes off Christ:
"And Peter answered Him and said, 'Lord if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.'
And He said, 'Come!' And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
But seeing the wind, he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, 'Lord save me!'" Matthew 14:28-30

Looking heavenward, glorifies--Stephen is our good example:
"But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God." Acts 7:55

Vs. 26 Guarding the path of our feet:
"Ponder the path of your feet,
And let your ways be established."

"But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John l:7

Here are two verses of Scripture to lay hold of and keep forever before you:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Vs. 27 Guarding your foot from evil:
"Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil."

We have this admonition from the Apostle Paul, "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Ephesians 4:1-3

Lord, may you be glorified in and through each one of Your own! Amen