After a recent Secrets group, several of the girls and leaders were talking about cell phones and how to secure one’s privacy. We were joking about how “they,” not knowing exactly who “they” would be, are aware of everything we say, text, and email. After the girls and leaders departed, I realized that one leader had left groceries she had purchased prior to class in my refrigerator. I texted her to see if she wanted to come back and get them, and eventually we decided that she would get them the following day. As we were completing our communication, a notification popped up at the top of my phone. It read, “Siri Suggestions. Bring the chicken. Found in messages with Mandy Smith 3/20/22.”

I could not believe what I was seeing. My phone was telling me to bring her chicken to her the following day, just as we had previously decided in our texting. Truly, “they” are listening. How frightening is that?

Days later, I was thinking about cell phones and the effort we go to in order to protect our privacy because “they” are listening. But what about our thoughts and our spoken words? Who is listening to those? What are we doing to protect our hearts against wrong thinking and critical and harmful words?

Psalm 94:11 says, The Lord—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath (ESV).

And in Psalm 139:2, we read, You (Lord) know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar (ESV).

If you continue reading in Psalm 139, you see David acknowledging God’s divine ability to search the heart and mind of mankind. He says, O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me…(verses 1-5 ESV).

God knows our thoughts. He hears our words, and He knows each of our words before they are spoken—how frightening is that?

I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds (Jeremiah 17:10 ESV).

So we need to ask ourselves, “What am I doing to protect my heart, because the Bible tells me that out of the heart, the mouth speaks.” If our hearts are not guarded, neither will our thoughts, nor our words, be guarded. So, how do we guard our hearts? Well, it is pretty simple. Let’s look to scripture to answer that question:

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23 ESV).

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2 ESV).

 How do we keep our hearts with all vigilance? How do we transform our minds?

My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings (Proverbs 4:20 ESV).

Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth…(Proverbs 4:1-5 ESV).

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:1-5 ESV).

God is listening; He is watching to see if we will seek Him with all of our heart, saturating our hearts with His Word, and setting our hearts to follow and obey Him. If we are, He has a promise for us… 

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13 ESV).

Dianne