Protecting your heart....

Above ALL else,  for out of the heart flow the issues of life.  So I've read Proverbs 4:23 before, but after reading a friend's blog post a few days ago, my mind has really been meditating on it.  "Above ALL else," those are some strong words.  The heart must be pretty important if God is telling us to guard it above everything else. 
So I started thinking about what I was letting IN my heart.  I am pretty emotional at times and I don't know if everyone is like this (probably not) but I have to really protect what I allow to enter my thoughts through my five senses.  
Like for example, music.  I love to sing, I love music, all kinds of music.  I have never fit into a "style" of music, I really appreciate many different styles.  I want to learn how to play piano and maybe even guitar...if I can get past the finger pain.  I have a musical "ear" and know it is a talent I need to uncover.  I have a thousand excuses why I haven't made time, but it is definitely on my bucket list. 
Sooo, how does this tie in with protecting my heart?  I have noticed that whatever music I listen to really can affect my heart.  My mood can change, memories often are sparked...sometimes good, sometimes bad.  I've noticed this for a while, but it seems to be so clear lately.  Music can really affect my emotions!  Whatever mood I'm in, I'll often enforce that by listening to a certain style of music.  Lately, however, I have found myself seriously paying attention to how I can make the choice to change my bad moods into better ones by listening to songs that glorify the goodness of God.  I am not going to say it happens immediately, but if I am willing to get out of my pity party and open my heart, He always comforts my soul. 
Another thing is what I am allowing myself to see.  A few examples are facebook, tv, movies, etc.  Starting with Facebook, I have to say I do like it, sometimes a lot.  For a while, it was my main way to socialize because I am a stay at home mom of three wittles.  Especially when I sat down to nurse Ava, I found myself reading about every Tom, Dick, and Harriet's life.  It got consuming and I realized I had to set some boundaries because I was getting in a facebook trance, wasting hours online.  So, I decided to fast from facebook for a week.  (This is not in any way intended to set a standard on how often to be on facebook, that is a personal revelation, so please don't feel like I'm trying to push my convictions on you.)  I could see how it was affecting my heart, so I decided to not let it do that by taking a break, deleting some drama llamas, and thinking about what I was posting myself. 
We do not have cable, so I don't have a big tv distraction.  We do have Netflix and watch movies so I just try to ask myself if what I choose to watch is going to affect my heart in a positive or negative way.  Sometimes I can see something and it not affect me, but other times I find that it causes me to feel emotionally driven for a bit.  I think so many people don't even make this "connection" because it truly is normal to let these things affect our heart and take it as truth.  But it's not!
These things do affect our hearts, and we really should guard what we let in.  I don't want to get so "normal" that I begin to lose this revelation.  I also don't want to get to a place where it's about ME controlling everything and miss what God is saying.  That might not make sense, but if I get over into what is right and wrong about everything, then I'm making it about me.  I don't want it to be about me, I want it to be about Christ in me and changing to see myself in Him.  I am starting to see that the more my eyes are focused on Him, the more peace I am feeling.  True, real peace.  Not the emotional roller coaster I often decide to hop on when I forget who I am.  Me getting off the emo-coaster, that is HUGE, especially if you really know me well, lol.  I know it is a mercy-heart gift gone carnal, but I'm starting to see truth. Emotions are not made to control us, but guide us in truth in Christ.  Heart protectors is more like it.
So instead, I'm using my emotions as a compass to guide my heart back to the true North, His truth.  I am His beloved, He loves me, and cares about my life, every.single.part!  I am just going to guard this precious heart of mine by being aware of His wisdom, His truths.  I know that sometimes I may have to choose to listen to uplifting, positive music, get off of the computer, and just bask in His love.  It's not that I am givng up anything, but that I'm gaining everything by guarding my heart from ignoring the connection I have with God.  So much of what we experience begins with a choice, and I choose to trust that no matter where my emotions are at, His loving-kindness will show me the path to peace.  I want my heart to reveal His plan.