I preached on Mark 7:14-23 on September 6, 2020. One of the implications from this text is that Christians ought to keep our hearts with all vigilance. I quoted John Flavel’s motivations for keeping one’s heart, one of which was for the edification of the saints. More specifically, as one keeps their heart, it will transform conversations with others. In this blog post, my desire to unpack this a little more. In doing so, I will be heavily leaning on John Flavel’s book Keeping the Heart.

“It is not very difficult to discern, by the performances and converse of Christians, what frames their spirits are in. Take a Christian in a good frame, and how serious, heavenly and profitable will his conversation and religious exercises be! What a lovely companion is he during the continuance of it! It would do any one’s heart good to be with him at such a team. ‘The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgement; the law of his God is in his heart.’ When the heart is up with God, and full of God, how dexterously will he insinuate spiritual discourse, improving every occasion and advantage to some heavenly purpose! Few words then run to waste. And what can be the reason that the discourses and duties of many Christians are become so frothy and unprofitable, their communion both with God and with one another becomes as a dry stalk, but this, their hearts are neglected? Surely this must be the reason of it and it is an evil greatly to be bewailed.” (Flavel, 28). 

In other words, as one keeps their heart diligently, their love, devotion, and delight in the Lord will burst from the heart and onto their lips. Oh, how sweet, delightful, and beneficial are these words as they enter into the ears of a brother or sister!

As we keep our hearts with all vigilance, what are some practical ways we can seek to have more fruitful conversations which will lead to the edification of the saints?

1. Love the Lord more than the world. Later in Flavel’s book, as he addresses some of the reasons why we struggle to keep our heart, he says our hearts love the world too much. One of the implications of this is that our conversations center more on worldly matters rather than heavenly. The foundation for transforming our conversations is fixing our hearts on Christ.

“Worldly cares and encumbrances have greatly increased the neglect of our hearts. The heads and hearts of multitudes have been filled with such a crowd and noise of worldly business that they have lamentably declined in their zeal, their love, their delight in God, and their heavenly, serious, and profitable way of conversing with men” (Flavel, 110).

2. Share what God is teaching you in His Word and how it is transforming your life. This could simply be two minutes of sharing something God taught you recently. As you share, this can help steer the conversation to discuss spiritual matters. As you testify to the Lord’s work in your life regularly, it will help build a culture where we naturally share what God is teaching us.

3. Ask questions that will guide the conversation deeper. What is God teaching you in His Word? How would you describe your spiritual walk? What is your greatest challenge? How would you describe your relationship with your spouse, roommate, children, co-worker, etc.? Ask follow up questions on prayer requests that have been shared in the past. Ask more open-ended questions rather than yes or no questions.

4. Speak the truth of Scripture and pray. As a brother or sister shares what is going on in their lives, speak the truth in love to them. Pray with them as opportunity allows and continue to pray for them throughout the week.

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flows the springs of life.” – Proverbs 4:23

Written by Jonathan Mitchell