Proverbs 4:23 (KJV) says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

So often, we focus on physical health by getting in shape, and sometimes spiritual health by being faithful in the place of devotion in prayer, reading the Word and going to church. But we seldom focus on our emotional health! Our emotional health is so important because we all face moments of anxiety, fear, depression, stress and grief, and how we respond makes all of the difference!

Romans 8:6 (KJV) says, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” The mind is the battlefield between our flesh and our spirit, and the determining factor on which side wins is dependent on if we allow what is happening to us our around to dictate our pattern of think or if we have control of our thoughts. By thinking upon the goodness of God and meditating on His Word, it is much easier to keep our heart and emotion in check when things occur that are outside of our control or expectations. We can’t control tragedies or what happens around us, but we can be in charge of our emotions and successfully manage our response if we are more spiritually minded!

This is why it is so important to “keep our hearts with all diligence!” We should guard our hearts in the same sense as a prison guard watches over a cell or room. A prison guard may have the authority of the state or federal government backing him up, but his position is not to arrest people because inmates are already in jail, his job is to keep things in order and check in order to prevent riots or chaos from happening. In the same sense, our hearts are under the jurisdiction of the kingdom of God, and we have the authority to guard our hearts. In doing so, we must protect and defend it by not developing or allowing soul ties to form. The wrong relationships can damage us emotionally and mentally, but we must not allow the wrong people to access our hearts!

This leads to the next question, “Can we be spiritually health and emotionally unhealthy?” It is definitely possible because there are different elements in prayer and utilizing the authority God has given to us. For example, Elijah was spiritually healthy because he heard God’s voice, knew it and walked with such authority that he was able to pray a 63-word prayer and call fire down from heaven. But in the next chapter, once Jezebel threatened his life, he demonstrated how emotionally unhealthy he was because he hid himself in a cave wishing to die. He was seeking so much to hear from God for a nation that he overlooked hearing God for his own heart and emotional health! We can try to save and change the world, but if we don’t guard our hearts, in the meantime, the world can break us down! Therefore, guard your heart because while people may be mesmerized by signs, wonders and miracles, being spiritually minded, sustaining character and keeping your emotion in check are vital to protecting your life and the longevity of your ministry, as well as your impact on others!