August 16:Guard the Garden of Your Heart

Sharon Campbell- Danvers,
Shepherdess, CIC

Theme: Guard the Garden of Your Heart

Proverbs 4:23
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Theme: Protecting the Heart

Some people might know that I am a self-taught farmer. I truly enjoy backyard gardening. It brings me joy to watch things grow and to eventually reap the fruits of my labour. There is something deeply rewarding about nurturing something from seed to harvest.

However, gardening in the Cayman Islands presents several challenges. A wide variety of pests and insects frequently attack my plants. I have had to become quite creative, using natural remedies to keep the pests at bay. Occasionally, when nothing else worked, I resorted reluctantly to using chemicals as a last resort.

In all honesty, the greatest threat to my garden has not been insects or iguanas. It has been wild chickens. Believe it or not, these birds are far more destructive. They scratch the soil, dig up roots, and devour young shoots with astonishing speed. Because of them, we have had to invest in fencing, netting, and various other barriers to protect what we are trying to grow.

As I was reflecting on this, God brought to mind the verse in Proverbs chapter four, verse twenty-three. Just as we must guard a physical garden from threats, we must guard the garden of our hearts.

Our hearts are sacred spaces. They are places of growth, beauty, potential, and purpose. Just like any garden, they are vulnerable. The issues of life, such as our thoughts, desires, words, decisions, and relationships, all flow from the heart. That is why the Word instructs us to keep it with all diligence.

Not everything that attempts to enter the heart is beneficial. There are visible threats such as anger, envy, and unforgiveness. These are like the chickens of the soul. They scratch and tear at what God is trying to grow. Then there are the subtle pests. These may include fear, doubt, insecurity, and worldly influences. They may seem small at first, but if left unchecked, they eat away at our peace, joy, and faith.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:7,
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
This peace acts like a protective covering, a divine fence that guards the inner garden from the chaos of the world. But we must choose to remain under that covering by fixing our hearts and minds on what is true, pure, and praiseworthy.

How then do we guard our hearts?

Be intentional
Just as I inspect my garden daily, we must regularly examine our hearts. What thoughts are we entertaining? What emotions are taking root?

Use wisdom
Some issues require gentle correction, while others require firm boundaries. We must discern when to apply grace and when to take a stand.

Build spiritual fences
Surround your heart with prayer, the Word of God, godly relationships, and healthy habits that nourish your inner life. Establish boundaries and maintain these to keep your heart in line with the peace of God.

Psalm 119:11 says,
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
Planting the Word of God in our hearts is one of the most effective spiritual defences. It not only protects, but also nurtures growth, just like compost enriches the soil.

Respond early
Do not wait for the damage to spread. Address issues promptly before they take over. Like weeds and insects, the earlier you deal with certain thoughts, habits, or relationships, the better. Early action can prevent greater destruction later on.

Be prepared to do it all over again
Guarding the heart is not a one-time action. It requires repeated effort and vigilance. You must keep coming back, examining, tending, and guarding again. Spiritual growth, like gardening, requires consistent attention.

The heart is the wellspring of life. Everything we do, including our words, worship, and work, flows from what is happening inside. Guard it like your most treasured possession. Tend to it like the garden it is, because in due season, you will reap a harvest of peace, purpose, and spiritual fruit.

Prayer

Lord, help me to guard the garden of my heart with diligence. Show me what needs to be removed, what needs to be nourished, and where I need to build stronger fences. Let my heart be a place where Your Spirit freely dwells and where the fruits of righteousness grow. Amen.