“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:2)
Our heart is considered the well spring of life which everything else flows from it. A wellspring can be defined as “a continual supply or basically the source of everything else in our life.” Webster defines a Wellspring as the head or source of spring, stream, river, etc., fountainhead. Or a source or supply of anything, especially when considered inexhaustible. The heart is our “central station”, it is essential to our ability to live and function. On a practical level, our heart continues to work behind the scenes keeping oxygenated blood circulating throughout our body through our Autonomic Nervous System. Our heart sends powerful commands to our bodies and brains via neurological, hormonal, and electrical signals that not only keep us alive, but that can direct our mood and emotions as well.
Our heart is also our authentic self and the core of our absolute being. It is where all our dreams, our desires, our motivations, and our passions live. Our heart is the part of us that connects our spirit to God as well as connects us to others. Not only is our heart a vital organ that helps us to live and breathe, but it is also vital to God. Our heart is the keeper of our life and therefore, God has a lot to say about it.
“A heart at peace gives life to the body”. (Proverbs 14:30)
We guard our heart by what we focus on. The good news, whatever we focus on, expands but this can also be the bad news. We are familiar with the acronym, G.I.G.O. Garbage in, garbage out. This sums up the WHY behind guarding our hearts. Day in and day out, we fill our hearts with either positive or negative information and messages. Our speech is a telltale sign of what our hearts contain. Are our conversations more prone to fear and worry or do we express kindness, peacefulness, and goodness? The words that come out of our mouth are a direct connection to what we have filling our heart with.
“Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” Luke 6:45b.
February is the month where we focus on our heart. Perhaps find practical ways to make sure you are filling your heart with all things that are good. Make sure you are kind to yourself so you can extend kindness to others. Let go of your past. Forgive others. Live in the present moment. Be grateful and learn to give as well as receive love. Dwell on the positive. Laugh out loud often. Live your best life out of an abundant, loving wellspring.
Rhonda L. Smart [email protected]
