1. Guard your heart
Proverbs 4:23

2. … the wellsprings of life
A source of a spring or stream – origin.

3. A plentiful source or supply of something

4. Above all else, guard your affections
Above all else, guard your affections. For they influence everything else in your life. Living Bible

5. Guard

6. Solomon didn’t … I Kings 10:23 – 11:6
Extremely wealthy – more than anyone
Extremely wise – people sought his advice
Accumulated
chariots (1400)
horses (12,000)
wives (700)
other women (300)
I Kings 11:3*

7. Cain didn’t ... Genesis 4:1-7
Got angry because of the difference in His life situation
His face was downcast
Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it!

8. Heart Inner desires, secret desires Inner constructions
Motivations, attitudes, thoughts
Hidden source of all action and speech
(Out of the abundance of the heart …)

9. If you don’t guard your heart …
Evil desires enter, take root and produce havoc – steal your ‘life’, ensnare you
The inner evil will grow and overwhelm your decision making
You lose your way – sense of direction, end up taking frantic, irrational options

10. We must learn the inner disciplines
Self control
Faithfulness
Obedience
Contentment
Trust/faith
Honesty
Forgiveness
Love

11. How?

12. Confession
How?
Meditation
Re-thinking
Prayer

13. Results
Transformed speech – silence, nourishment, encouragement, healing
Sleep – absence of dread, peace
Wisdom – guidance, prudence, discretion
Transformed relationships – reputation, respect, attraction, reliability