JANUARY 9, Proverbs 4:23

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” This verse teaches us many important lessons. Most important of all, it urges us to keep our heart pure.

Jesus taught us that a good tree will bear good fruits while a corrupt tree will bear corrupt fruit.That means only a man with a good heart will do good deeds. If we fill our mind with evil thoughts, our actions will also be evil. When we love God with all our hearts, we will choose to please God and not want to sin or do evil deeds like lying, stealing, cheating, fighting, using foul language, telling dirty jokes or boasting. All these sins begin in the heart, so guard your heart diligently.

How can we keep our hearts pure? Only two things can cleanse our hearts of sin – the blood of Jesus and God’s word. Believe that you are born a sinner and that Jesus died on the cross for your sins. Accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour. Your confession will make you a child of God. As children of God, we will face many temptations. However, our hearts can overcome evil temptations through prayers for God’s protection and by studying and keeping God’s word in our heart.

Do you know why your Sunday school teachers encourage you to memorise Bible verses? Read Psalm 119:11 to find the reason. Unscramble the following words to form that verse:

Psalm 119:11

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Thought: A pure heart will produce godly deeds.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, keep my heart pure for Thee. Help me to hide Your word in my heart so that I might not sin against You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.