GUARDING FRISBEES.....or maybe my heart?

In this picture, I am guarding a frisbee...yes, a frisbee...my friend was trying to take it from me and toss it in the airport. I was somewhat concerned about the comings and goings of others, so I took it and guarded it.....close to my heart.
When I saw this picture, it reminded me of the wayI sometimes guard my heart from being hurt. The expression on my face is one I am not particularly proud of....it's not very flattering and yet, there are times when I respond to others with that same look like, "Get out of my face before I bite your head off!!" (sorry to all of those out there who have been in that situation with me!). But what does GOD say about guarding our hearts and what does that look like?
I've decided to look into that.......this is posting #1:
My first passage of the WORD is from Proverbs given the fact that "guard your heart" is a command in chapter 4.....
This chapter is pretty amazing....it talks about desiring and gaining wisdom above all earthly gains and then guarding it as it dwells in our heart. It brings us life. A few verses got me REALLY thinking....take a look: (NIV)
"Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother,
he taught me and said,"Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor."
Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.
I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men.
Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.
They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely 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 a man's whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil."
What strikes me about this is that long before we are told to "guard our heart", we are to "lay hold of the WORD" with all our heart. We guard our heart because the precious WORD, instruction, wisdom and understanding of God dwell there.....then it's almost as if we are given instruction on how to guard it....by "putting away perversity" and "corrupt talk", by fixing our eyes straight ahead and keeping our foot out of evil. Mmmmm. We aren't even to place a foot on the path of evil.....not even a toe! So many times I entertain the idea that I can dance on the line between the path of righteousness and the path of sin. It's like the imaginary line that kids make in the back seat of the car....we try to come so close to it without putting a finger over it just to annoy the other person. We do that with God, too.....how close am I to the line that paves the way to death. Awfully close too often. Sometimes I pray that God would break my legs if HE must, just to keep me close to Him....that's easier than having to choose to walk the narrow path paved with sorrow and ending in pure joy. Do I guard my heart from the path of sin? How close do I live to the border of mediocrity?Mmmmm. I can only repent and ask for HIS wisdom, understanding, and the strength to guard my heart. Thanks for reading.....more to come!