Guarding What Grows You

I was angry when the Holy Spirit whispered, “Guard your heart.” It didn’t sound protective; instead, it felt like abandonment.

For most of my life, I’ve had watchmen on the wall — people who prayed for me, protected me, warned me when danger was coming. They saw what I couldn’t see, fought battles I didn’t know existed, and stood in the gap when I was too weary to stand for myself. But that day, God made it clear: “This part is now yours to carry.”

No intercessor could do it for me. No friend could filter the noise. Even the God who hides me in the secret place (Psalm 91) was asking me to take ownership of what I let in and what I let linger. And that’s when I realized —

Guarding my heart wasn't about protection; it was about stewardship.

Proverbs 4:23 says it best:

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

How poetic— and yet it's also very practical. Guarding your heart is preventative maintenance for your soul.

It’s checking what’s seeping in through conversations, environments, or old patterns. It’s saying, “This emotion doesn’t get to drive today.” To guard is to conduct an internal scan before allowing an external reaction.

And that is hard, not gonna lie. Because the same heart that fuels compassion, is the same one that can cry comparison. The same heart that carries love can carry resentment if left unchecked. But God's not asking us to work harder around this. Phew.

Let me Loop You In...

As much as it may seem that way, this heart-guardianship our isn't about managing emotions. It's about how God wants us to join His work in our hearts to keep our purpose healthy and productive. Every leader, every believer, every human with purpose eventually reaches this loop:

Guard → Grow → Give → Guard again.

Guard your heart, so it stays aligned with God. Grow in wisdom, so your emotions serve you—not sabotage you. Give from your overflow, not depletion. Then guard again, because the world will keep knocking.

This loop isn’t burnout prevention—it’s purpose protection.

So what’s been leaking into your heart space lately—fear, fatigue, approval-seeking, you should be doing this or that by now? Ask yourself:

1. What boundary, habit, or prayer could help me guard it better this week?

2. What bridge do I need to let down, so that words and habits that do align can come in and nurture my heart

   ?

Need a lil' help with that? Maybe it's time to consult a Coach.