Prov 4:23 says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”  You and I are to keep our hearts.  We are to be heart keepers, in much the same way as there are gate keepers and door keepers.  Gate keepers and door keepers only let in authorized persons.  They keep out all others.  And we are to keep our hearts with all diligence, only letting in the right stuff.  That is, we are to be very vigilant in protecting and strengthening our hearts.

So, how are we supposed to keep our hearts?

Watch what goes in your ears – Prov 4:20-21 – we are supposed to “attend” to God’s words, to incline our ears to what he said; to keep them in the midst of our hearts.  The words of God are not only good for our hearts, they are essential.  Prov 4:22 says that God’s words are life to us and health to our flesh.  I believe that, in the case of some Christians, their health is compromised and their lives are shortened because they have not nourished themselves sufficiently with the words of God.  His words are that vital.  Jesus said in Matt 4:4 “Man shall not live by faith alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Let the words of God in through your ears.  Listen to it.  I read my Bible while listening to Alexander Scourby’s audio recording of it.  Listen to the teaching preaching of the words of God.

Keep out all things that would harm your heart.  They are like poison to you.  Much of what is on talk radio will harm your heart.  False doctrine, perversion, lies and deception will harm you.  Bad instruction [Prov 19:27], bad music will give you a bad heart.  You should only listen to good music.

Watch what goes in your eyes – Prov 4:21, 25 – You can get the words of God into your heart through your eyes, as well.  Look at them.  Read and study the words of God.  Look at them while hearing them taught and preached.  Look very carefully so that you can receive them, understand them, perceive them, and memorize them in your heart [Prov 4:21; 22:17-18].

You should also look at things that enhance the work of the words of God.  Good books and good videos, for example, are beneficial to your heart.  Keep other things from entering your eyes [Prov 4:25] that are bad for your heart.  Be very careful with television, the internet, magazines, and movies.

Watch what comes out of your mouth – Prov 4:24 – out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh [Matt 12:34].  You must stop perverse words at the gate.  Be aware these things are down in your heart [Mk 7:21-23].  The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable [Prov 10:32]. They shall withal be fitted in thy lips [Prov 22:17-18].

Watch the places you go – Prov 4:26-27 – Go to a good Bible-believing church. Go to places that are acceptable to God and keep away from the wrong places. Your feet will take you places that you shouldn’t go if you don’t watch it.  And they will take you to places that you should go.  So, go there.

Conclusion: May God bless you as you keep your heart by watching out for what you let in your ears, what you let in your eyes and what comes our of your mouth.  Watch out where you go, also.  Letting the right things into your heart and keeping the wrong things out is a good way to keep your heart with all diligence.