God Knows 9 Proven Ways To Guard Your Heart You Need To Know

Do you realize only God knows the intent of your heart? This can be equal parts freeing and scary right? Are you guarding your heart against the temptations surrounding you? Do you know the importance of guarding your heart as a follower of Jesus Christ? Here are 9 ways to guard your heart biblically.

A simple and easy-to-understand definition would be to guard your mind, thoughts, actions, and feelings. The following verses sum it up:

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. Proverbs 27:19

O Lord, you have searched me and known me! Psalm 139:1

You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139:2

You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Psalm 139:3

Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. Psalm 139:4

You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5

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God Knows the Intent of Your Heart

Is your heart in the right place and laser-focused in areas that will mature, deepen, and grow a meaningful closer relationship with God?

Are you the type of person who is slow to speak or (as a famous Kentucky slang) one who possibly lets their mouth overload their brain?

Do you think you are a “good person” and have the best intentions (only God knows) but in all honesty, the heart is deceitful and wicked?

The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9

I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:10

I did a post a while back asking if we are modern-day Pharisees of today’s time. The Pharisees appeared to follow the law of God and the people surrounding them thought they were “good people.”

As was previously stated, however, when you read God’s word Jesus put them in their place time and time again. See, only God knows the intent of your heart.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Matthew 23:25

You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Matthew 23:26

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. Matthew 23:27

 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Matthew 23:28

What do I mean when I say guard your heart? God doesn’t judge you by your outward appearance. God looks straight into the heart of an individual.

Nothing is hidden from him for only God knows what truly lies in your heart and the motives that drive all you say and do.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

What Does It Mean Out Of The Abundance Of The Heart The Mouth Speaks?

Out of the abundance of the heart (spirit), the mouth speaks. The spirit of man is dead in sins, the Spirit of Truth, working through man, is eternal life. God knows the intent of your heart.

Everything you speak, think, and do will attest to what the abundance of our heart brings forth; and ‘that’ is only according to the will of God.

What Should Be The Motive Behind A Christian’s Heart?

The motive behind the Christian heart should be following the example and character of Jesus. In other words, living a life of faith and love, not attention, and popularity.

What Are 12 Evils That Defiles The Heart?

What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person. Mark 7:20-23

1. Sexual Immorality
2. Theft 
3. Murder
4. Adultery
5. Coveting
6. Wickedness
7. Deceit
8. Sensuality
9. Envy
10. Slander
11. Pride
12. Foolishness

In Christ, it’s crucial to guard your heart today more than ever. Our world is full of temptations at every turn. You are surrounded by it on television, music, the internet, and even standing in a grocery aisle waiting to purchase groceries for your family.

Make wise God-honoring choices to do what it takes to guard your heart. I went digging into research to come up with biblical ways to guard your heart in Christ Jesus.

Here are 9 ways to guard your Heart biblically

1. Prioritize Quiet time for Studying the Bible

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

That the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:17

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. Psalm 119:9

With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! Psalm 119:10

I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11

2. The Bible Is Your Roadmap

It’s vital to be in the word of God daily to grow your sanctification daily. When I’m not in the word of God I can tell. Something to consider even more is God knows too.

Not only that but this is also when I feel myself starting to conform to things of the world. I know I’m supposed to guard my heart against such things.

The Bible is your roadmap that breathes, wisdom, guidance, and encouragement into the heart of the believer. It sanctifies you with the truth and instructions to be more conformed to the image of Jesus.

3. Be intentional in Prayer

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

God knows the intent of your heart when you pray. Prayer is equally important because this is your one-on-one conversation with God. I admit this is an area I need to be more proactive.

When you are not spending quality time in prayer you become weak in your spirit. This also makes it easier to become more vulnerable for lies of the devil to creep into your mind.

4. Don’t use Crooked speech and Devious Talk

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23

Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Proverbs 4:24

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

My Mama always taught us to use the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It seems nowadays this has fallen to the wayside.

As fellow sisters in Christ, you should make it a priority to encourage words of hope and lift one another up not tear one another down.

Sadly, it seems as if gossiping takes precedence. Now I will be the first to admit that I’m no saint and far from perfect. However, that being said doesn’t mean you should strive to do better. Don’t you agree?

5. Your focus should remain forward

Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Proverbs 4:25

Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Proverbs 4:26

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forget what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. Philippians 3:13

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

My takeaway from these scriptures is to keep facing forward and not backward so you will be less apt to slip into temptations.

If you are looking backward or at your feet, you will slip up and trip and no longer be focused on the path that God has in front of you. Can I get an Amen ladies?

6. Keep Jesus as the King of Your Heart

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Matthew 27:37

I know this should be self-explanatory. Much too often you make things an idol and/or king of your lives and hearts…such as…

1. Husband
2. Children
3. Home
4. Vehicle
5. Career
6. Finances

If God isn’t your King of ALL he’s NOT Lord of all. Does this make sense? Remember to keep in mind that only God knows the intent of your heart…So make sure you guard your heart well against stumbling blocks.

7. Carefully consider your circle of friends

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals. 1 Corinthians 15:33

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Proverbs 13:20

I have another famous Kentucky slang my Mama taught us, girls. You become who you spend your time with so choose your friends wisely.

8. Be mindful of what you see

The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. Matthew 6:22

But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! Matthew 6:23

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things, and give me life in your ways. Psalm 119:37

Only God knows your heart, however, that being said, you also have an adversary Satan. The enemy of all enemies. The lies of the devil will try to deceive you with the lust of the flesh and the temptations of this world.

If the devil can get your eyes on the things of this world…He’s winning. Guard your heart by being mindful of the shows you watch, the books you read, etc…

9. Pay attention to what you listen to

Believe it or not, what you choose to listen to is very influential. In all seriousness, I used to love listening to the Top 40 hits before rededicating my life to Christ. I knew this would be a stumbling block for me.

So I prayed. Father God, PLEASE take the love of this music away if it’s not edifying you. In my spirit, I already knew it was not lifting Jesus rather it was lifting demonic spirits.

Have you listened to today’s music? It is filled with foul language, sexual innuendo and immorality, alcohol, violence, drugs, and much more.

I can’t listen to anything but Gospel-related music now without the conviction of the Holy Spirit…I am thankful for that!

What Does the Bible Say about the intent of your heart?

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. Proverbs 21:2

“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:10

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:27

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

Would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart. Psalms 44:21

Your Turn

May you desire to grow in your daily walk with Jesus Christ. I’ve given numerous examples that you can implement to do this. Find a friend or an accountability partner that will help you stay on track together and hold one another accountable.

Hey Friend, Thanks For Reading!

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