Protect What God Is Growing
Proverbs 4:23 — Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
The Bible tells us to guard our hearts, and lately I’ve realized I apparently need to guard my strawberries too.
Yeah, I planted this little strawberry patch in my backyard, and I live in town, okay? I’ve babied those things and encouraged them like they were family members.
But I walked out there in the morning, and just before they turned that perfect shade of red, some little critter had already come in during the night and eaten the whole thing… or just taken a bite out of it. And I was so frustrated.
Now I’m basically a detective going, “Okay, wait a minute. Was that a squirrel, a bird, a raccoon, or somebody’s freeloading cousin?”
But then it hit me: I’m not upset just because the strawberries are gone. I’m upset because something keeps getting to what’s growing.
Isn’t that true of our hearts too? What grows unguarded rarely grows unharmed.
Just like we protect things that are growing, the seemingly small negative influences can quietly steal our joy. Fear, bitterness, jealousy, and resentment. They don’t usually show up all at once. They sneak in a little at a time and start taking bites out of the good things God is growing in us.
That’s why Scripture tells us to watch over the wellspring of our lives, because everything else flows from there. Guard the source, and you’ll protect the fruit.
So maybe today, before you go looking for what’s wrong around you, just ask what’s been nibbling away at your heart. Then you can deal with it before it steals any more joy.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
- What are some things that have been “taking bites” out of your heart lately—fear, worry, resentment, comparison, or something else?
- Proverbs 4:23 says to “guard your heart above all else.” What does guarding your heart look like practically in your daily life?
- Are there any influences, habits, or thoughts you need to remove because they are affecting what God is growing in you?
- What is one “fruit” you want God to grow in your heart right now—peace, patience, kindness, forgiveness, joy, or something else?
- How can you invite God to help you protect your heart this week?
