Tips For A Healthy Heart

Tips for a Healthy Heart

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23

The Bible emphasizes the importance of guarding our hearts. That’s because our hearts can determine the course of our lives. Our thoughts, emotions, and intentions will shape everything we do and every decision we make. So it’s vitally important for us and those close to us to guard our inner attitudes. Here are some ways to do that.

First, be careful what you take in. Whatever sinks into your mind will often come bubbling back up, whether you want it to or not. Just as your physical health is affected by what you eat, your spiritual and emotional health is affected by the thoughts and images you consume. Avoid spiritual “junk food” and fill your heart with positive messages.

Second, fill yourself with God’s Word. Nothing will influence you as powerfully as hearing God’s voice and learning His ways. It’s not enough to avoid putting negative thoughts and images into your heart; you also need to fill it with truth. The Bible, inspired by God, is the only fully reliable source of truth, and its message is more powerful and life changing than that of any other book you can read. Read His Word and meditate on it often.

Third, stay grounded in prayer. Pray alone and with others—especially your spouse and your children, if you have them, or a friend you’re accountable to. If you’re a young person and your parents haven’t prayed with you recently (or ever), why not ask them to? It may feel awkward at first, but it will help bring you closer to God and closer to each other. Just remember that prayer is simply having a conversation with God. There are no rules or special words. Just talk to Him openly and honestly.

Finally, check your motives for what you do with God and for Him. Motives are a heart issue. You need to do things for the right reasons. If your goals are status and acceptance—impressing people, making a name for yourself, serving yourself—then you need to redirect your motives. Make sure everything you do—especially what you do in your relationship with God—is done out of a sincere desire to know God, discover His will, and do it.

Most people spend more energy guarding their behavior than their hearts. But if you guard your heart, your behavior won’t be nearly as difficult to deal with. Pay attention to what goes in, and you’ll be pleased with what comes out.

Uncommon Key > If you want the course of your life to go well, guard your heart well. Is there something you need to stop watching or viewing? Take the steps to eliminate those things from your life.