I suppose being a teacher of insightful kids around the age of 6 has challenged me to think about the love of my Father more in depth during this season of wintery weather, chocolate hearts and roses. So, for the whole month of February, we have been focused on learning not only about the amazing function (and importance) of our physical hearts, but in addition, we are strengthening our minds and hearts with truths from God’s Word that speak to how much He loves us (and how we should love Him.)
His banner over us truly is divine love unfathomable. Remarkable.
One of the many reasons I love Principle Approach teaching so deeply is how it showcases His Word enhancing and supporting each subject we teach.
Case in point, while learning about the human heart and its primary function being to pump blood carrying oxygen and nutrients to all our body, it was easy to relate how our spiritual heart pumps life into our relationships and walk with God – both need to be protected, preserved, and maintained. The innermost organ - the sustaining life force of our astounding bodies - needs to be cared for and watched over as does our spiritual heart. Therefore, when I read, “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.,” the Holy Spirit began to teach me the lesson from a new perspective. He led me on a treasure hunt into this golden verse.
Keep (nâtsar) to guard, protect, maintain, and watch over.
thy
Heart (lêb) feelings, the will, and even the intellect – the center of anything – courage and understanding.
with all
Diligence (mishmâr) a guard (the man, the post, or the prison) watch (take heed watch, observe, preserve) – like a prison guard.
for out of it are the
Issues (tôtsâ'âh tôtsâ'âh) boundary, deliverance, source.
of
Life (chay) alive; raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; life (or living thing.)
God using such strong imagery in His exhortation regarding our hearts has been soul-stirring.
To keep (nâtsar) my heart, means more than one would think at first glance. We are to guard and protect, watch over the center of our being, our feelings, will and intellect, because the source for our life, our strength and living comes from there. God knows our hearts are tricky, deceitful even sometimes. So, to be diligent, just as a prison guard at his post, we also need to make sure to protect, be most observant, and watchful over our own hearts. We are admonished to take heed of how we care for them.
Noah Webster explains that to guard means to secure, protect, defend, to keep in safety, to secure against attacks of malevolence and to accompany for protection as if you are to guard a general on a journey. When I think of how often God calls me to the battlefield, I was blessed by how perfect His Word truly is.
Oh, that I might protect my heart like a general on a journey, for it is an arduous one at times. My relationship with God is directly impacted by how well I am watchful of my heart.
While I have been blessed by our memory verses this month, for the past week, Proverbs 4:23 has taken up a special place in my life. Maybe it is because it is such a familiar verse, I tend to overlook it somehow. I could quote it, but could I really teach it to my students? Do I model it for those around me to see? As I offered up earlier, Proverbs 4:23 has challenged me and blessed me all at once.
February has brought many sweets (no pun intended) my way, but I would have to say, Proverbs 4:23 providing the firm foundation upon which to build a Kindergarten anatomy lesson was among the most delightful.
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