What God says about guarding your heart and mind
Today, we’re seeing a blending of the teachings of Christ and the teachings of the world. This mixture is wrapped up in a bow and people are saying it’s from God.
It’s not. And if we’re not careful, we will repeat history making the same mistakes Christian’s before us made long ago.
In writing this blog, God brought my focus to the plight of the Israelites. They were God’s chosen people set apart for his great works.
He spoke to their ancestor Abraham promising to make them a great nation. God fulfilled that promise.
Many years later when they found themselves in captivity in Egypt, God heard their cry leading them fire by night and cloud by day.
He provided water, bread, and meat in the wilderness with the promise of leading them to a land of milk and honey…the Promised Land.
God’s ask was that they remember Him. He wanted them to pass stories of the exodus (their faith) on to the generations to come so they would know Him as well.
It didn’t quite work out that way. There were remnants of other people in their land. People who worshiped false gods and with cultures and practices different from what God taught.
Instead of the Israelites influencing them, they influenced the Israelites.
The Israelites did not guard their hearts and minds and soon found themselves worshiping idols made of wood and metal.
Take a look at Jeremiah 2:11-13 (NIV) which states
Has a nation ever changed its gods?
(Yet they are not gods at all.)
But my people have exchanged their glorious God
for worthless idols.
Be appalled at this, you heavens,
and shudder with great horror,”
declares the Lord.
God sent prophets and judges to warn them of the consequences of their sins and provide corrective action.
As I read Jeremiah and looked at the world around us today, I can’t help but think that we are at risk of making the same mistake.
Although we’re fighting the same enemy Christians before us fought, with today’s advances the fight has intensified in my opinion.
Thus, for Christians today, it’s important that we do as the Bible warns and guard our hearts and minds in Christ. However, there seems to be some confusion about how to do this.
As I was strolling on Facebook, I saw someone asking what it means to guard our hearts and it got me thinking.
I’ve asked the Lord so that I may have a better understanding. He gave me the example of the Israelites as I have briefly summarized above.
But I also want to share with you a few other things He taught me on the topic.
So in this article, we will
- Discuss what it means to guard our hearts and minds in Christ
- Discuss 7 ways to do so
- Wrap up with a prayer of encouragement
Let’s get started.
What does it mean to guard your heart and mind in Christ?
The heart….a powerful muscle sitting in the chest protected by the ribcage and responsible for pumping blood throughout the body.
The brain…another powerful organ protected by the skull receiving and filtering millions of pieces of information, but only consciously makes you aware of what’s relevant at the moment.
Oversimplified, but we get the point. Two vital organs and without them, physical life cannot be sustained.
So what happens when we look at these organs metaphorically in the spiritual realm?
Here are a few scriptures on what the Bible says about the heart.
Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)-Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)- A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 27:19 (NIV)- As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.
Psalm 51:10 (NIV)-Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 37:4 (NIV)-Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 19:14 (NIV)-May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Proverbs 21:2 (NIV)-A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.
Psalm 119:11(NIV)-I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Proverbs 10:8 (NIV)-The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
Psalm 27:3 (NIV)-Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.
1 Peter 3:3-4 (AMPC)-Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.
Scriptures about the heart and mind
Philippians 4:7(NIV)-And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 22:37-And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect).
John 14:27-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.
Jeremiah 17:10-“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
These scriptures could go on and on as I found so many references to the heart in the Bible.
David was known as a man after God’s heart and thus the Psalms he wrote are filled with references to it. Solomon was blessed with great wisdom and even he referenced the heart numerous times in the book of Proverbs.
And together all of these scriptures portray God’s definition of the spiritual heart.
The heart is the part of our spirit where wisdom, thought, self-control, and the knowledge of right and wrong reside. Our spiritual heart is who we are and what we stand for in the spiritual realm.
Just as it’s crucial to our physical health, it’s also just as important to our spiritual health.
When we guard our hearts and minds, we’re protecting them as a gatekeeper would, making sure what enters is good, God-filled, and without corruption.
In doing this we make sure it stays clean and pure. And as a result, what comes out of it is the same.
Although the spiritual heart encompasses the mind, the mind is its own separate entity. But, these two organs are intertwined spiritually just as much as they are dependent on each other physically.
What you think flows from your heart, but it can also corrupt the heart. Thus, it’s important to guard both.
I hope all of that makes sense. Let me know in the comments.
7 Ways To Guard Your Heart And Mind
1. Capture every thought and make it obey Christ
As stated above, a corrupt heart is filled with negative thoughts and a corrupt mind can infiltrate the heart.
Eve is an example of this. Her encounter with the serpent was likely not the first. I mean would you take advice from a stranger?
Satan had worked to gain her trust. With an unguarded heart and mind, Satan slipped in deceiving Eve and Adam causing “The Fall.”
We can learn from Eve’s mistake by constantly being aware of our thoughts and challenging them against God’s word. Jesus did this when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness.
If our thoughts are not aligning with the word of God, we are to cast them down using the powerful name of Jesus.
Be sure to check out our Christian Candles Inspired by the women of the bible. You can check out our “Eve & The Forbidden Fruit” candle here.
This leads us to another way to guard our hearts and minds in Christ.
2. Renew your mind daily, more if necessary
In today’s world, it’s more important than ever that you have a mind like Christ.
Do not try to conform to this world as you do not belong to it. If you try, you will always feel like an offbeat instrument in an orchestra.
Check out my article on being set apart for God.
The message here is that negative thoughts will come. We’re human. However, we can choose to cast them down and make our thoughts obey Christ.
It’s not easy. You, me, and every Christian in this world will have to work at this daily.
But let’s take heart in knowing that God is ready and willing to help us. We just have to take it one step at a time. And when we fail, we get back on the horse and keep trying.
3. Put on the full armor of God daily
Just as we shower, brush our teeth, and start the process of getting dressed by putting on our undergarments, shirt and so on, we also need to dress ourselves spiritually.
Ephesians 6:13-18 (NIV) states:
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
4. Pay attention to what you are consuming physically and spiritually
Around my college years, I realized that watching scary movies that involved spirits, demons, etc was opening a doorway for these things into my own life.
I found myself unsettled and with feelings of fear when I did. I honestly can’t explain it. But, I could feel that something wasn’t right in my own home.
My husband loved those types of scary movies. When he watched them when I wasn’t home, I could feel it within minutes of walking around our home.
I would ask “Did you watch a scary movie?” He would look at me like how did you know?
I would walk through the house praying and would open the door and command whatever was there to leave. Needless to say, my husband no longer watches those types of movies.
My message is to consider what you (and even those around you) are allowing in your space.
5. Be mindful of who you’re fellowshipping with
Are the people that you’re hanging around a good influence? If not so much, are you influencing them more than they’re influencing you?
Not only must you be mindful of your space, but who is in your space as well. If you’re continuously influenced by things that are not of God, it’s easier for sin to creep in.
That thing that you know is sinful doesn’t seem so bad anymore. It’s only a little.
The Israelites might have felt the same way, but soon they were worshiping idols turning their backs on God.
All the enemy needs and wants is a little crack in your foundation. With that, he can come in and try to wreak havoc.
In guarding your social space, you’re guarding your heart and mind.
6. Ditch bad habits and adopt new ones
I’m currently reading the book, Atomic Habits
In the book, he talks about how it’s hard to break a habit if we are surrounded by the cues so ingrained in our brains that lead to said habit.
What environments do you need to change to form better habits that will assist in guarding your heart?
I talked about social situations above. But, your environment is more than your social space. The items in your home and the places that you go all count.
7. Be consistent and persistent in prayer
Although God descended from heaven, Jesus walked this earth fully human. Thus, he experienced every emotion that we’ve ever felt (and will feel).
He often went away to a quiet place for prayer while keeping the word of God and its wisdom on His tongue. These were weapons that He used to guard His heart.
Another person who guarded her heart well through prayer was Hannah. Despite her circumstances, Hannah didn’t let bitterness, envy, or revenge into her heart. Even when she was provoked to the point of tears and carried the weight of shame.
Instead of creating a gateway for the enemy she created one for God by getting on her knees and laying the matter before her Father.
It was in these precious moments that they both found peace in their soul and strength for the journey ahead. You and I can do the same.
Be sure to check out my blog post on what God teaches us through Hannah after you’re done with this article.
Prayer for guarding your heart and mind
Dear God,
I now have a better understanding of what it means to guard my heart and mind in you. I also understand how essential it is for me to do so.
Thank you for your protection and the power that you’ve bestowed upon me against the enemy. Thank you for giving me the victory before the battle even begins. Thank you for fighting for me and with me.
Father give me strength in my weakness as I guard my heart and mind in you. Help me to choose what’s right, just, and favored by you. Guide the words of my mouth, every sound that comes in and out of my ears, and every vision that enters my mind.
This I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Final thoughts on guarding your heart and mind
Just as we guard our loved ones, finances, and possessions, it’s also essential that we guard our hearts for our spiritual health.
It’s also important to God.
1 Samuel 16:7 states,
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
God isn’t looking at the outer shell that people portray and can manipulate. He’s looking at who we truly are and what we’ve chosen to stand for.
What will He see when He looks at yours? Guard your heart and mind in Christ well my friend.
Let me know your thoughts on this article in the comments! Also, feel free to share and sign up for our email list so you know when another article is posted (usually every Tuesday evening).
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Until next time. Be blessed.
-Dr. Jay
*Of note, bible verses in their various translations were obtained from here.
