We had one investor who promised to make a sizable investment.

He ran us
through the ringer. The due diligence process was all-consuming. We really
didn’t have time to court anyone else. We made the fatal mistake of putting all
of our eggs in one basket.

After months of back-and-forth, the investor decided not to make the

investment after all. We were left high and dry, with only $12.00 in our
checking account. We were disappointed, angry, and ready to quit. We almost
lost heart.

That experience wouldn’t be the last time I experienced an assault on my

heart. In my journal, I have cataloged almost twenty distinct situations where
I was ready to quit and throw in the towel. In fact, as I have grown older, the
conflict has intensified.

This is why, I think, as leaders we must be diligent to guard our hearts. King
Solomon said it best: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring
of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

This is necessary for at least three reasons:

1. Because your heart is extremely valuable. We don’t guard worthless

things. I take my garbage to the street every Wednesday night. It is picked up
on Thursday morning. It sits on the sidewalk all night, completely unguarded.
Why? Because it is worthless.Not so with your heart. It is the essence of who
you are. It is your authentic self—the core of your being. It is where all your
dreams, your desires, and your passions live. It is that part of you that
connects with God and other people.Just like your physical body, if your heart
—your spiritual heart—dies, your leadership dies. This is why Solomon says,
“Above all else.” He doesn’t say, “If you get around to it” or “It would be nice
if.” No, he says, make it your top priority.
2. Because your heart is the source of everything you do. King Solomon
says it is the “wellspring of life.” In other words, it is the source of everything
else in your life. Your heart overflows into thoughts, words, and actions.In
Tennessee, where I live, we have thousands and thousands of natural
springs, where water flows to the surface of the earth from deep under the
ground. It then accumulates in pools or runs off into creeks and streams.
 If you plug up the spring, you stop the flow of water. If you poison the water,
the flow becomes toxic. In either situation, you threaten life downstream.
Everything depends on the condition of the spring.

Likewise, if your heart is unhealthy, it has an impact on everything else. It

threatens your family, your friends, your ministry, your career, and, indeed,
your legacy. It is, therefore, imperative that you guard it.

3. Because your heart is under constant attack. When Solomon says to

guard your heart, he implies that you are living in a combat zone—one in
which there are casualties.Many of us are oblivious to the reality of this war.
We have an enemy who is bent on our destruction. He not only opposes God,
but he opposes everything that is aligned with Him—including us.

Pastors are particularly vulnerable. An August 1, 2010 article in the New

York Times reports that,

Members of the clergy now suffer from obesity, hypertension, and depression
at rates higher than most Americans. In the last decade, their use of
antidepressants has risen, while their life expectancy has fallen. Many would
change jobs if they could.”
The Enemy uses all kinds of weapons to attack our heart. For me, these
attacks often come in the form of some circumstance that leads to
disappointment, discouragement, or even disillusionment. In these situations, I
am tempted to quit—to walk off the field and surrender.

If your heart is unhealthy, it threatens

everything else—family, friends, career—
everything!