7 Ways to Guard Your Heart and Stay Close to God

When we look throughout Scripture, we see a recurring theme: Be careful to guard your hearts. God is watching us and knows us (Psalm 139:1–5). He commanded His people to observe His commands carefully as they prepared to enter the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 6:17–18). Throughout Scripture, there is an implicit warning that the Lord takes into account the hearts of people toward Him (see 1 Samuel 16:7). These truths are not meant to be burdensome but an encouragement to us. God cares about our hearts and longs for us to desire obedience in our innermost being. Consider, for example, Aaron, who took all of Israel’s gold, made it into the golden calf, and prompted the people to worship it (Exodus 32:1–5). Despite this clear moral failure that violated God’s law, Aaron was spared from the following judgment in which three thousand men died. Why? Scripture does not tell us directly, but it seems likely that Aaron was spared because God knew his actions were motivated by fear of the people rather than his heart’s genuine desire to worship a hunk of metal (Exodus 32:22–24). His heart was still for the Lord even though he had drifted in fear. King David is another example. Despite adultery and murder, he is not destroyed or abandoned by God. He is restored (though with consequences). Conversely, we see throughout the Israelites’ time in the wilderness that people are regularly struck down for various sins—God perfectly applying His punishment to those whose hearts are far from Him. Both God’s mercy and judgment prompt us to guard our hearts intently. Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Guard your heart above all else.” We want to guard our hearts because, as Jude teaches, we are to keep ourselves in the love of the Lord rather than in sin or the evil of the world (Jude 21). Scripture also teaches that, as believers, we are guarded by Christ as His own (John 10:27–28). So it is a reflection of His love that we respond with vigilance over our own hearts. He is careful with us, and we are called to be careful with ourselves—not in fear but in love. What does it look like, then, to guard your heart? Here are seven principles to help you keep your eyes on the Lord: Seek to Reflect God’s Merciful Heart God is slow to anger and rich in love (Exodus 34:6). How do you handle the sin of others—or even the perceived sins of others? Are you quick to judge? Quick to form conclusions about their character without seeing the whole situation or hearing from their hearts? Take time to examine your responses to others and ask the Lord to reveal where judgment may be taking root. If you have a judgmental spirit, watch that your heart is not drifting far from the Lord. Practical application: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal someone to whom you need to show more mercy—be it a friend, family member, child, or even yourself. Then, rely on His grace to help you treat them with the same understanding He offers you. Tame Your Tongue Proverbs tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). James supports this teaching, telling us that control of the tongue reflects maturity and self-control in our inner lives with God (James 3:2). It is out of the “overflow” of the heart that the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34).So take time to analyze what you say—and even what you want to say but do not. Control at the tip of the tongue is not the issue as much as the heart from which speech flows. Are your words gracious, giving, and gentle? Or do they reveal attitudes that do not honor the Lord? Practical application: Make it a practice to ask the Holy Spirit for discernment and wisdom in your speech. You might consider taking a moment before responding to others, especially when you are flustered. Remember that you do not always need to respond right away. Be Careful Not to Love Money The Bible says that we cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24). Where we long for our money to go is often an indicator of what we value. Take some time to consider your spending, saving, and giving habits. What do they reveal about your priorities? I do not think God is necessarily asking us to give everything away (though, if you sense that calling, do not deny it! See Matthew 19:21). Instead, He wants us to understand that if we give to Him first, He will be honored. Stewarding finances well is a great way to practice faith. Practical application: Review your spending from the past month. Ask Jesus to reveal what your habits say about your heart's true priorities, and invite Him to align your stewardship with His desires. Keep Your Hearts Pure from the World A pure heart is a heart that wants one thing primarily, from which all other desires flow. The Bible says that the pure in heart will see God (Matthew 5:8). What is your number one longing? Even if it is God, there may still be competing longings. These are indicators of what might form strongholds in your life for evil. Sin is never a good master—it will take us where we do not wish to go. But through our errant longings we can also see what we are called to meaningfully deny. This becomes an opportunity to deny ourselves and show our love for Jesus (Luke 9:23). Practical application: Keep a list of meaningful prayers and verses on your phone to check throughout the day. This practice keeps your eyes on Jesus—your ultimate longing—and reminds you that purity comes from abiding in Him, not your own striving. Remember to Rest I have become convicted lately that I need to rest before the Lord—and that rest is a culturally subversive concept. Resting tells the world that I trust God that my work will get done, even if I take a Sabbath—or a Sabbath-like rest. Whether or not the Sabbath day is commanded for believers under the New Covenant (consider Colossians 2:16–17), rest is still part of God’s plan for us, for it is part of His wisdom and what He modeled in creation (Genesis 2:2–3). Just because a full Sabbath day each week may not be commanded does not mean rest is unnecessary. Instead, I think we take the wisdom of the Sabbath and honor it as the Lord individually places it on our hearts (Romans 14:5). Practical application: Plan a dedicated time for rest this week. Whether you’re walking in nature or reading, invite the Lord into that time and enjoy the gift of rest in the presence of your Savior and friend. Have a Heart of Prayer This is a tricky one because prayer can be difficult, and I do not want to lay guilt on top of guilt.Sometimes prayer does not seem to change anything. Sometimes we do not hear from God in any notable way. And sometimes it is difficult to focus. But here is the heart check: We still need prayer because we need to surrender ourselves to the Lord.Do not neglect prayer just because you are struggling with sin—perhaps even with the things I listed above. Instead, bring those very struggles to God in prayer. God does hear us, and we need the change that prayer effects in our lives. It reminds us that we are not in control. He is. Practical application: List your heaviest burdens and bring them to the Lord. If prayer feels difficult, be honest with Him about why. Trust that the Holy Spirit is empowering you as you surrender your control to Him. Remember That Suffering Is a Powerful Tool in the Hands of the Lord Finally, let us remember that suffering can be a powerful tool in the hands of the Lord for our good.In suffering, we see His presence with us like never before. We track His mercies in the regular provision of our needs. We contemplate the reality that suffering is made meaningful when we lift it to the Lord. When suffering comes, look for God’s mercies, even in the midst of pain. He is near. Practical application: If you are in a season of peace, write a letter to yourself with biblical truth for future trials. If you are currently suffering, consider trying the practice of lament—use the Psalms to bring your honest cries before the Lord and find refuge in Him. When I make mistakes—I do, and I will—I want the Lord to see that though I sinned, my heart is still desiring Him. My heart is still needing Him. And my heart will still submit to His ways. Guard your hearts, friends, for all sorts of things can flow from them. It is a constant practice, in the Spirit, to orient them toward the Lord. We are not without help in this pursuit, for the Holy Spirit is with us in every breath and moment of our lives as we seek to orient our hearts to God. If you liked this article, check out the related resources linked below! Author Bio Lianna Davis is an evangelical Christian writer and a graduate of Moody Bible Institute (BA in Women’s Ministry) and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (MATS). She has authored a book on baby loss, a Bible study on the book of Jude, and has contributed to a book by her grandfather on missions. Illinois is home, where she lives with her husband and second daughter; her firstborn enjoys glory. You can find Lianna at liannabdavis.com. Related Resources: The Way of Wisdom | A 31-Day Devotional Through the Book of Proverbs Emotions and the Heart Bible Study The Prayer Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to the Practice of Prayer Loading price… Loading price… Loading price… View Now Add to Cart Add to Cart