If there is anything we should guard and keep with all diligence, it is our hearts. Why, because out of it are the issues of life, both in this world and that which is to come.
The Lord God in the book of Jeremiah 17: 9 described the contents of the human heart, which is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.
Imagine what issues will come out of such pitiable estate of man. Though Christ has come that we may have life, man is incapable of choosing life because of his heart condition, which is deceitful above all things.
Thus, we need to consciously ask God to come in and transform our hearts and make it new.
How do we keep our heart with all diligence after our new birth in Christ?
1. Take heed to the word of God.
Proverbs 23: 26, says we give God our hearts. God is the Giver of Life. Just like the Lord formed Adam and breath into him and Adam became a living soul, so also we have to prayerfully and willingly give our hearts to the Lord to work upon, make it new by the shed Blood of Christ, the Word and the Spirit. These three bear witness on earth to our new nature in Christ.
2. Submit our hearts to God daily in prayer and ask for the purging of our hearts by the blood, cleansing by the water of the word and purifying by fire of the Spirit the deep-seated deceitfulness of our hearts, the wickedness therein, the unbelief, the fear, anxieties, evil thoughts, unforgiveness and every evil works.
3. After receiving by faith the gracious workings of our God, it is our responsibility to cast off all these. But we cannot afford to leave our hearts clean, garnished and empty. We must plant the word of God, the fruits of righteousness which, are to the praise of God by Christ, fear of God and the kingdom of God (righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost) in our hearts daily.
4. Keep watch over our hearts daily to ensure the new contents of our hearts are intact in our manner of lifestyle and confession. Keeping our hearts with all diligence presupposes that it is not a one-off thing. We must keep at it with watching and praying.
