Building Character-Guarding Our Heart

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

-Proverbs 4:23

· We continue this week to look at building our character.

o Remember that last week we said that our character is that element of who we are mentally and morally that makes us distinctive as individuals.

§ That is highlighted by the things that we say and do

§ And is never more authentic than the decisions that we make when no one is around.

· We looked last week at what Paul taught to the Church in Philippi as they were transitioning from who they were before Christ and becoming what God intended for them to be in Christ.

o Paul said they were to use their minds to think about whatever was true, noble, pure, right, lovely and admirable

o This is important because our minds are the starting point for what happens in the heart

o So, we must guard what goes in the mind so that we can closely guard our heart.

· The heart is a tricky place and the Bible even describes it as such.

o Deceitful yet honest

o It can hate and it can love

o It is consuming and forgetful

o It causes foolish actions and gives great wisdom

o It can be divided and committed

o It holds secrets and is truthful

o It seeks and yet it aches

o It can be calloused and it can worship

o It holds our treasures and our pains