“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” —Proverbs 4:23 (KJV) The heart is the core of a man, the vessel, the cup. And the contents of the cup determine the contents of the pour. If the cup is clean, the pour is clean. If the cup is filled with truth, truth flows freely. If the cup is filled with corruption, corruption escapes the lips. This is the law—as within, so without; cause and effect; you reap what you sow. Jesus affirmed this eternal principle: “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” —Matthew 12:35 (KJV) Therefore the command of the Father is this: “Keep thy heart with all diligence…” Guard it. Protect it. Watch it constantly. Clean it out. Fill it intentionally. Let nothing enter the cup except what belongs to righteousness. The preceding verses explain how this is done: Proverbs 4:20–22 (KJV): “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.” By reading the Proverbs daily, by speaking them aloud, by hearing our own voice declare them, by keeping our eyes upon them, we place the Father’s truth inside the cup. And soon enough, when we are called to speak, we will pour out what we have put in— the right words at the right time. For Jesus said: “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” —Matthew 12:34 (KJV) If we answer according to the Scriptures, then the Scriptures fill our cup. If we answer contrary to the Scriptures, then something else fills the cup. The mouth reveals the heart. But keeping the heart diligent does not only mean filling it with truth— it also means keeping it away from wickedness. The same chapter warns: “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.”