“Above all else, watch over your heart; diligently guard it because from a sincere and pure heart come the good and noble things of life.”  Proverbs 4:23 (VOICE)

This verse in Proverbs has been one of my favorite verses for several years.  It’s a reminder to protect my heart vigilantly; I’ve learned through the years that I have to be intentional in standing guard over my heart from Pharisaical attitudes. If I allow them space in my brain, they can quickly enter my heart and eventually affect my words, actions, and deeds.

When I allow sinful, self-righteous, judgmental, and selfish attitudes to enter my heart, it becomes mucky, like stagnate water.  Then, instead of encouragement and love flowing out into others’ lives, it’s a yucky manifestation of a critical heart.

How do you manage to keep your heart sincere and pure? Are you struggling during these unsettling days to keep it from becoming stagnant? Is there something I can specifically pray for you, to help you keep your heart from becoming polluted?