What the Bible Says About Guard Your Heart?

God loves his creation, especially his children. He cares about the actions of his children, and that is why the Scripture repeatedly talks about ‘guarding your heart’ or ‘guard your heart.’ The Bible emphasises the need to guard our hearts, which points to the important role our heart plays in our spiritual and emotional well-being.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Proverbs 4:23

The Scripture above implies that our heart has a great influence on our lives and shapes our thoughts, actions, and relationship with God. Believers must understand what the Bible says and how to guard our hearts so that we can apply this principle in our spiritual growth.

What does it mean to ‘Guard your heart’ in biblical context?

 We may be tempted to consider the heart mentioned in the Bible as the organ that pumps blood in our body; the heart mentioned in Proverbs 4:23 represents —the seat of emotions, intellect, and will. The heart is where decisions are made, desires are nurtured, and faith is cultivated. In science, emotions are usually separated from rational thoughts. Still, the biblical perspective sees the heart as an integral centre of our being, deeply connected to both spiritual and moral dimensions.

Is our heart vulnerable to sin?

Yes, the Bible acknowledges our heart’s susceptibility to sin and deception. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Because our hearts can lead us to sin against God, we must be vigilant and guard our hearts against anything that can make us fall. An unguarded heart can easily fall prey to harmful influences and spiritual decay.

Does God Care About your heart?

God definitely cares about the state of your heart. He cares more about your heart than your actions because the heart is the real proof of the genuineness of our actions.

Throughout the Scripture, God’s focus is on the heart’s condition rather than external appearances. There are many instances in the Bible where God judged actions based on the state of their heart.

Examples of Instances God looked at the heart are:

1. In 1 Samuel 16:7, Samuel wanted to anoint David’s brother Eliab, but God saw that the state of his heart wasn’t right. God told Samuel that he judge people based on physical attributes but by the state of their heart.

2.  In Genesis 4:1-16 Cain and Abel brought an offering unto the Lord from their harvest. God accepted the offering of Abel and rejected the offering of Cain. Cain showed the terrible state of his heart when he killed his brother Abel in anger. His action reflected that his intentions and heart were faulty.

3. In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus sat in the temple and watched as different people came to give an offering to God. He was moved by the action of a widow who gave her all to God. She didn’t hold back from God but gave all she had. Jesus was impressed by her action, which reflected the state of her heart.

 True worship and obedience start from a heart wholly devoted to Him; therefore, safeguarding our hearts is a priority.

What is the Connection between the Heart and the Mind?

The mind is a gateway to the heart. Our mind is the place where our thoughts are processed and thereby transferred to the heart. The relationship between the heart and the mind is deep and cannot be separated.

Philippians 4:8 encourages believers to focus on things that are true, noble, and praiseworthy, as these thoughts directly impact the heart. When you are able to think of these things, your heart will be properly nourished thereby influencing your decisions and your actions.

Ways to Guard your Heart

How do we guard our hearts effectively if we do not know the ways we can guard our hearts from evil thoughts? In this section, I will explain some of the ways you can guard your heart that have worked for me for years; if you have other ways of guarding your heart that work for you, kindly add in the comment, and I’ll be waiting to hear from you.

1. Monitor Influences

What are the external activities that influence your actions and behaviour? It is important to understand the things that inform your decisions and actions so that you can guard your heart from this agent. You can take steps like evaluating the media, conversations, and environments you engage with, as these shape your heart’s focus.

Withdraw from activities that have a firm grasp of your thought process. Always keep in mind that your thoughts affect your heart. Never allow ungodly thoughts to take control of your heart.

2. Prayer and Scripture Reading

There is a saying in the Yoruba language that says, “Prayer is the walking stick of a believer”. Prayer is indeed a very potent tool to guard our hearts against every vices of the enemy. Praying consistently and persistently keeps our Spirit man awake and alive.

Combining the power of prayer and regular study of the Word is by far the best strategy. Studying our Bible gives an extra layer of security to our hearts, just like the technology of two-factor authentication.

Having a regular prayer and bible study routine, often called quiet time, is very important. Daily communion with God protects the heart, filling it with His wisdom and peace.

3. Accountability

We often overlook accountability. Many believers think accountability is not necessary; after all, God sees and knows everything. Being accountable to others helps us to take extra care. We live with the consciousness that someone will hold us accountable for our actions and decisions. 

It is important to surround yourself with godly mentors and friends who encourage spiritual growth and provide counsel. It is vital to make sure your spiritual mentors are people you trust and can be free to tell them the things on your mind. Remember that sin thrives in secrecy.

4. Allow the Holy Spirit Discernment

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

The Devil is cunning, and he designs new ways to misguide believers and lead them to sin. Discernment is very important, especially in these end times where many false doctrines and prophecies are flying around us.

Allow the Holy Spirit to help you filter what you allow into your mind and, in turn, your heart. Do not be swayed by emotions and spiritual gymnastics. Be vigilant in identifying spiritual dangers and seeking God’s guidance in decisions.

5. Make Gratitude a lifestyle

 Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always].

Colossians 3:15 AMP

Gratitude is a lifestyle, not a habit. Maintain a grateful attitude and mindset at all times. Do not allow the challenges you face to affect your thoughts and actions. Focus on God’s blessings to guard against negativity and discontent.

Gratitude refocuses the heart on God’s blessings, countering negativity and discontentment. Gratitude has the power to relieve our hearts of all external pressures and deceit. 

6. Set Boundaries in Relationships

No man can thrive alone. God wants us to relate with other people and influence them. However, we must remember to set boundaries in our relationship with people. Protect your emotional and spiritual well-being by investing in connections that align with biblical principles.

Our Relationships have a significant impact on the condition of our hearts. Setting healthy boundaries protects emotional and spiritual well-being, ensuring that people know their limits. Be willing to let the people around you understand your stand for God and what you will permit around you.

If people know you won’t tolerate gossip, backbiting, manipulation, jealousy, etc., they most likely won’t do things that encourage such acts around you.

7. Practice Humilty

 Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility], ⁶ who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes—the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it];

 ⁷ but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man]. 

⁸ After He was found in [terms of His] outward appearance as a man [for a divinely-appointed time], He humbled Himself [still further] by becoming obedient [to the Father] to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Philippians 2:5-8

Jesus is our perfect example of humility. Humility helps us to become God-reliant rather than self-reliant. Humility breeds a teachable spirit and allows God to work in us, renewing our minds and making our hearts right with him.

8. Let go of every unforgiveness and bitterness

Resentment and unforgiveness are killers and stealers of joy and gratitude. When you harbour resentment, just like Cain, your heart will never be right with God. You will always be filled with negative thoughts and energy. Harbouring resentment damages the heart, hindering spiritual growth.

 Hebrews 12:15 warns, “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble.”

I understand that forgiveness is a challenge; we often find it challenging to forgive people who have hurt us, especially if we treated them sincerely; forgiveness brings healing and freedom to you.

9. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour

It occurred to me that I have mentioned a lot of ways to guard your heart but I never spoke about salvation. If you will be able to guard your heart, you must be born again.

Ezekiel 36:26 promises, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.” This transformation is only made possible through Christ and no one else. Salvation grants you a change of heart that is able to become free from the grasp of sin. The Holy Spirit helps in the process of change, enabling love, joy, and righteousness.

Role of the Heart in Spiritual Warfare

Guarding the heart helps in recognising and resisting spiritual attacks. Ephesians 6:10-18 lists the armour of God, which includes the breastplate of righteousness—a vital defence for protecting the heart against the enemy’s schemes. The target of the enemy is to strike the heart in battle. He understands that the heart is an important part of our lives, and the moment he controls the heart, he controls every other area of our life.

The Consequences of Not Guarding Your Heart

There are several consequences of not guarding one’s heart. Failure to guard the heart leads to numerous spiritual and emotional consequences, some of which are listed below:

1. Not guarding your heart can lead to spiritual stagnation.
2. An unguarded heart is more susceptible to temptation, leading to moral decadence.
3. It leads to emotional and mental instability.
4. Loss of joy and peace
5. Damaged relationship with others and God
6. Not guarding your heart can allow unforgiveness and resentment to take root, poisoning one’s being.
7. Vulnerability to false teaching, false prophets and false doctrines.
8. Repeated exposure to sin can desensitise and harden the heart.
9. Continuous neglect of the heart distances believers from God’s presence and purpose.
10. The inability to guard the heart can ultimately lead to untimely death.

The Benefits of a Guarded Heart

 Guarding the heart yields numerous spiritual and emotional rewards which include the following:

1. Constant and regular inner peace and joy (Philippians 4:7).
2. Sharp discernment and recognition of what is right.
3. Deeper Intimacy with God
4. Guarding the heart nurtures healthy, God-honouring connections with others.
5. A heart that aligns with God is fortified to resist sin and worldly distractions.

We live in a time where distraction is common, staying focused on eternal priorities is essential. Colossians 3:2 advises us to “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things”. The scripture encourages believers to guard our hearts by prioritising God’s kingdom.

Biblical Examples of those who Guard their Hearts

1. Joseph: Joseph is a perfect example of a fine young man who guarded his heart from sin. Despite betrayal and temptation, Joseph remained steadfast, refusing to compromise his integrity when tempted by Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39). His unwavering decision to guard his heart positioned him for God’s greater purpose.

2. David (in His Early Life): Before becoming king, David demonstrated a heart guarded by humility and trust in God. When he had the opportunity to harm King Saul, he refrained, saying, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master” (1 Samuel 24:6). His respect for God’s anointed preserved his integrity.

3. Daniel: Daniel was a slave taken to Babylon who remained true to his ideals and beliefs. Living in a pagan culture, Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the king’s food and wine (Daniel 1:8). His disciplined heart remained faithful to God, resulting in divine favour and wisdom.

Biblical Examples of those who Failed to Guard their Hearts

1. Samson: Samson was powerful, anointed by God to free the Israelites from the Philistines. Samson’s unguarded heart led him to pursue relationships outside God’s will. His entanglement with Delilah caused him to reveal the secret of his strength, leading to his downfall (Judges 16).

2. King Solomon: King Solomon is one biblical character who rose to a position based on God’s favour. God granted him wisdom that was unparalleled in this world. Despite his wisdom, Solomon’s heart turned away from God as he married a foreign woman who led him into idolatry (1 Kings 11:1-4). His actions resulted in punishment for the Israelites.

3. Judas Iscariot: As one of Jesus’ disciples, Judas had direct access to the truth. However, his unguarded heart succumbed to greed and betrayal, resulting in his tragic end (Matthew 26:14-16).

Final Thoughts

Guarding your heart is an essential aspect of Christian living. It requires vigilance, prayer, and intentionality to protect the core of your being from harmful influences and align it with God’s truth. Through the examples of Scripture, believers can learn the value of a heart fully devoted to God and the dangers of neglecting this vital command. By guarding your heart, you ensure that your life reflects God’s glory and fulfils His purpose for you.