The Bible is an insightful book of wisdom and faith. It not only gives insight into our relationship with God but also provides us the tools to understand our hearts. So, what does the Bible have to say about our hearts? In this article, we will be exploring what the Bible says about our hearts, how our hearts and minds should work together, and how we change or protect our hearts.
Our hearts are an integral part of our lives. We feel and we think with our hearts. The Bible says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) This means that what we think and feel is connected to our hearts and by guarding our heart we may protect the wellspring of life.
The Bible teaches us to guard our heart against temptations, temptations that are used to entice us to do wrong. We should have the courage to resist such temptations, as stated in Proverbs 28:26: “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.” Walking wisely is essential in guarding our hearts.
We must also seek to use our hearts to follow God’s will and bring glory to him. Our hearts should be a reflection of God’s glory. The Bible says: “Be careful how you think; your thoughts run your life” (Proverbs 4:23). Reflecting God’s glory is an important part of our Christian life.
Our hearts should also be forgiving. We should be ready to forgive and move on from wrongs against us. Rather than continue to give power to those who have wronged us, we should learn to forgive and forget. The Bible says, “Blessed are those who are kind and forgive, for they will receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7).
Our hearts should also reflect kindness and empathy towards others. We should not forget to love our enemies, as Jesus taught us in the parable of the Good Samaritan. The Bible says: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:35). This type of love is an act of faith, and it is only if we open our hearts to God that we can truly show love to our enemies.
Finally, our hearts should be strengthened by our faith in God. Our trust in Him should be rooted in our hearts so that we always choose Him first. Confirmation of this can be seen in Proverbs 3:5-6 which reads “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”
God’s Protection for our Hearts
The Bible is filled with warnings and instruction regarding our hearts, both in terms of our physical health and our spiritual wellbeing. As we search for God’s protection for our hearts, we must look to the Scriptures. Psalm 121:7 says,”The LORD will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life”. This verse implies that God will protect us from physical and emotional harm, and from the harm being inflicted and damaging our hearts by our own choices.
God desires for us to have safe and healthy hearts, and he provides us with many protections. We are encouraged in Isaiah 53:5, “He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him,and afflicted.” We can rest assured that no matter the pain and suffering we encounter in life, God is always with us, and will protect us and our hearts.
God also provides us with a peace that surpasses all understanding. Philippians 4:7 tells us, ” And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” When we yield to the power of Christ, peace floods our hearts and minds, giving us the assurance that our hearts are safe in the hands of the Almighty.
God also calls us to humble ourselves before him. Psalm 51:17 reads “The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart he will not despise.” This verse reminds us of our need to seek humility and sincerely trust God with our hearts, rather than relying on our own judgement.
Our hearts can be a source of strength in our Christian walk but only if we are willing to protect and care for them. We must remember to keep our hearts guarded, no matter what life throws at us. Proverbs 4:23 implores us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life”
The Heart and Mind Working Together
The Bible states in Matthew 5:8 that we should be pure in heart and mind: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” The Bible makes it clear that our hearts and minds should be aligned and working together. Our minds need the guidance and direction of our hearts, which is based on our faith in God.
In order to have a heart that is tuned to God and working in tandem with our minds, we need to constantly listen to God. Philippians 4:8 tells us to “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” We should focus on the things that God believes to be true, honorable, and right, and find our strength in God’s truth.
Having a heart that works with our minds will help us to better understand God’s love and grace. When our hearts and minds are working together, it allows us to receive the fullness of what God has to offer us. It was this kind of love and acceptance that Jesus showed when he said “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
God imparts His wisdom and understanding to us through the pages of the Bible. We must be willing to surrender our hearts and minds to Him and allow Him to fill us with His peace and guidance. We need to learn to trust God and accept His plan for our lives. Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
When our hearts and minds are open to God, He gives us the strength and courage to follow His will for our lives. As we allow ourselves to be transformed by His word, He gives us the freedom to be a living witness for Him. Scripture says in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Changing our Hearts
If we are to find fulfillment and spiritual freedom, we must learn to change our hearts. This can be a difficult process, but it is attainable through the power of God. In John 14:27 Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” When our hearts are troubled, it can be easy to feel frightened and surrounded by darkness, but Jesus reminds us that He will give us a peace that surpasses all understanding.
The Bible tells us in Colossians 3:5 that we must “put to death” our earthly desires, which can be difficult to do. However, if we are willing to surrender our hearts to is, transforming them from darkness to light becomes easier. Ephesians 5:8-9 reads “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”
It is also important to remember that as we strive to change our hearts, we should never do it in our own strength. We must depend completely on the power and grace of God to make us new. As we grow closer to Him and surrender our hearts to Him, Psalm 51:10 encourages us: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
In order to fully turn our hearts from darkness to light, we have to make the conscious decision to surrender to God’s will for our lives. Isaiah 55:7 says, “Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” Choosing to turn to God with a heart that is ready to receive His mercy is a critical step in changing our hearts.
We must learn to trust in the Lord and His promises for a heart that is worthy of Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 says. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; acknowledge him in all your ways and he will make your paths straight.” We can have a heart that is pure and made clean through our faith and trust in Him.
Protecting our Hearts
Sometimes it can be difficult to protect our hearts from being damaged by our experiences in life, or from the influences of the world we live in. The Bible is filled with guidance for how we can protect our hearts and keep them safe. Proverbs 4:23 instructs us to “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
One way to protect our hearts is to fill our minds with the word of God. Joshua 1:8 reminds us, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” When we meditate on God’s Word and allow it to renew our minds, we are better equipped to protect our hearts.
We should also remember to turn to prayer in order to protect our hearts. Psalm 145 says, “The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.” Prayer is a powerful source of protection for our hearts and gives us the hope of a brighter future.
In addition to prayer and God’s Word, the Bible encourages us to cultivate relationships that can help us to protect our hearts. Proverbs 17:17 tells us, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” It is important to surround ourselves with people who are positive influences in our lives and can support us when we are in need.
Finally, we should remember that God is always with us and we must trust that He is working all things together for our good. We should remind ourselves of this principle through Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” We must keep our trust and faith in God and allow Him to protect our hearts despite life’s challenges.
A husband of one wife, father of two beautiful girls, laborer of Lord, Jesus Christ, and a servant to God’s His saints. I hope to encourage you by God’s grace. Thank you for stopping by.
