A Norvell Note: Guard Your Heart

August 2, 2026 – Vol. 30 No. 29

I try to take care of myself, have regular checkups, and monitor my blood pressure. My doctor tells me my heart is healthy. But lately, I have been seeing lots of ads on my iPhone for apps designed to measure my heart rate, blood sugar, and blood pressure. Maybe you have gotten one or two of those ads too? Are our smartphones trying to tell us something?

Or maybe the Lord is trying to tell us something:  Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)

Those wise words had meaning centuries ago when they were written and still have profound meaning for us today. 

We need to guard our hearts from selfishness and pride.

We need to guard our hearts from anger and rage.

We need to guard our hearts from the unwholesome, vulgar, and impure.

We need to guard our hearts from holding on to the past and trying to live in the future. 

We need to guard our hearts from hypocritical and judgmental attitudes.

We need to guard our hearts so the Lord can use us to care for His people.

If you need an app to check your blood pressure, get and use it to stay healthy. And guard your heart and protect your soul so you can do the good things He created you to do. 

I love you.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2026 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved