Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23
I have been thinking of ways to revamp our school’s October Progress Report to better reflect our holistic understanding of child development. Progressive educators treat children as lab rats whereas classical Christian educators interact with children as eternal image bearers with body, mind and soul. God judges man’s thoughts, words and deeds and we can glorify God through the synergy of our individual Christlikeness in character, tasks, and relationships.
Consider this morning’s student prayer.
Holy God who madest me
And all things else to worship thee
Keep me fit in mind and heart,
Body and soul, to take my part.
Fit to stand and fit to run,
Fit for sorrow, fit for fun,
Fit for work and fit for play,
Fit to face life day by day.
Holy God, who madest me,
Make me fit to worship Thee.
Amen
I would argue that this fitness for life encompasses the issues of life mentioned in Proverbs 4:23. Whether it is sorrow, fun, work or play, our worship of Thee will stem from keeping our hearts with all diligence.
As John Flavel says, “The heart is the source of all actions; these actions are virtually and radically contained in our thoughts; these thoughts being once made up into affections, are quickly made out into suitable actions.” Does your life exemplify suitable actions stemming from right affections?
