Proverbs 4:23 – Guarding Your Heart: Insights from a Social Media Fast

This past spring, I started to feel convicted about my use of social media. I didn’t know it at the time, but God was calling me to make some big changes. In the process of trying to discern what God wanted me to do, I decided to fast from social media for 40 days. I made a post letting my friends know about my absence, picked a start date, and then disabled all of my accounts.

During those 40 days, I quickly realized how much my constant social media use had affected my heart. Despite my efforts to curate my newsfeed and friends lists, I was still bombarded with negativity, worldly values, divisiveness, and sensationalized headlines. This steady stream of content had slowly eroded my heart. It wasn’t until I stepped away that I truly understood the impact, feeling a newfound sense of love, peace, and joy. My connections with people took on a deeper, more meaningful dimension.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. – Proverbs 4:23

Throughout this, Proverbs 4:23 became my anchor. I clung to it and it became the measuring stick against which I made decisions. It led me to make my social media fast a more permanent change. As I meditated on it and prayed over this verse, God began to transform my heart. This transformation prompted me to reflect on other areas where I might have failed to protect my heart and the potential impacts.

The Bible has a lot to say about our hearts, referring not to the physical organ, but to our inner being–our mind, will, and heart. The Hebrew word, לִבֶּ֑ךָ, encompasses these aspects. Protecting our hearts doesn’t mean avoiding emotional pain at all costs; it means doing whatever it takes to guard our hearts from sin.

To fully grasp this, it’s helpful to consider the surrounding text in Proverbs 4:

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. – Proverbs 4:20-27

I believe there are four key lessons we can draw from scripture regarding our hearts:

1. Keep sin and garbage out:

Guard your heart by avoiding sin and anything that corrupts your spirit.

• Luke 6:43-45 – No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
• Luke 21:29-36 – He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
• Mark 7:21-23– For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come-sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.
• 1 Peter 1:22 – Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
• James 1:14-15 -But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
• 1 Corinthians 15:33 – Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

2. Fill Your Heart and Mind with God’s Word:

Prioritize immersing yourself in scripture, hold it close and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.

• Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.
• 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
• Deuteronomy 11:18-20 – Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road; when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
• Romans 12:2 – Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.
• Colossians 3:1-2 – Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
• Matthew 6:19-21 – Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

3. Seek God’s Insight:

God knows your heart better than you do. Ask Him to reveal any blind spots and areas that need attention.

• Psalm 139:13 – For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
• 1 Samuel 16:7 – But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
• Psalm 139:23-24 – Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

4. Spend time with God:

Cultivate a deeper relationship with Him and ask Him to transform your heart.

• Jeremiah 29:13 – You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
• Philippians 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
• Ezekiel 36:26 – I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
• Deuteronomy 6:5 – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
• Romans 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Guarding our hearts is a vital practice for nurturing our spiritual well-being. By keeping sin and negativity at bay, immersing ourselves in God’s Word, seeking His insight, and cultivating a deeper relationship with Him, we can protect our hearts and align our lives with His will. This ongoing journey requires dedication and prayer, but with God’s help, we can cultivate hearts that reflect His love and grace. Let us remain vigilant and committed to this path, trusting in God’s wisdom and transformative power.