Our Heart Needs a Guide (Proverbs 23:19)

This lesson will deal with the subject of guiding our heart. When it comes to the subject of the heart the word of God has a lot to say. In the verse from Proverbs for this study we see two important things in regards to the heart. The first one is that our heart needs a guide. The second thought is a direct result of the first thought. The heart must not be left to itself or unguided. With this stated we will look at some things from the word of God about guiding the heart.

When it comes to the subject of the heart we are to be very careful with our heart according to the word of God. Proverbs 4:23 says that we are to keep our heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life. Therefore everything in our life will be a matter of heart. If you want to do right it will be connected to an issue of the heart, if you want to do wrong it will also be connected to the heart. Everything is a matter of the heart.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 shows us the real reason that we need a guide for our heart. It is because the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. We are taught by man to trust your own heart. While this sounds good in theory it is actually not right according to the scriptures. This is why we need a guide for our heart.

The Holy Ghost is our guide:

After the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ when a person is saved they receive the Holy Ghost of God. Jesus is seen explaining how the Holy Ghost would come after he returned to heaven in John 14-16. In John 16:13 the Holy Ghost is said to guide us into all truth when he comes. This is important; if we remember from Jeremiah 17:9 the heart is deceitful. When we think of being deceived we think of being lied to in some way. The Holy Ghost will lead us into all truth therefore he is the best guide for our heart.

In regards to being guided by the Holy Ghost and God’s word we must remember a few things about being guided. A heart that can be guided must be meek (Psalm 25:9). God guides us with his eye (Psalm 32:8). Therefore we must keep our eyes on him. Our heart must be guided by counsel (Psalm 73:29). Our best counsel will come from the word of God by way of the Holy Ghost.

Why is the Holy Ghost such a good guide for our heart?

When you think of a tour guide there are some basic things that he must do. The Holy Spirit does each one of the things without fail which makes him the best possible guide we could have.

1)  He knows the way.

• According to Proverbs 23:19 our heart needs to be guided in the way. The Holy Ghost of God knows the way perfectly.

2)  He knows where the dangers are.

• Along any pathway there are going to be some dangers.The Holy Ghost knows exactly every one of the dangers. If we listen to him we could avoid all the pitfalls that are in our path.

3)  He is responsible for the group.

• God has given every saved born again person the Holy Ghost. And the Holy Ghost will not fail in guiding you in the right direction.

What is our responsibility in regards to having our hearts guided?

Our part is to not forsake the guide. In Proverbs 2:16-17 we see the strange woman and a warning against being taken by her. If you look at verse 17 it says that she hath forsaken the guide of her youth. I don’t know of any little girls that start out saying they want to be a prostitute or sell themselves for money. But then there are thousands of them all over the world. For many of them it starts by forsaking the guide of their youth.

Our Heart Needs a Guide (Proverbs 23:19)

Handout

1)  What is the thought from the verse in Proverbs for this lesson?

2)  Why must we be so careful when it comes to matters of the heart?

3)  Who is our guide and why is this so important?

4)  Why is the Holy Ghost such a good guide for our heart?

5)  What is our responsibility concerning having the Holy Ghost to guide our hearts?