What Does God Mean When He Talks About the Heart?

The word “heart” in Old Testament Hebrew is leb, and in New Testament Greek, kardia. Variations of the word “heart” are used in the Bible about 700 times. Scriptural verses point to the importance of the heart and its traits and effects.

When Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, he did not listen to Moses and Aaron; when people’s hearts were fearful, they fled before their enemies; Deuteronomy warns people of Israel to become proud and forget the Lord Who gave them life and prosperity; of people’s hearts turning away from God because of fear; of them disobeying God because of such apostasy. Daniel prophesied about people’s spirits becoming arrogant when their hearts were lifted.

In contrast, those whose hearts were willing gave generously to the work of the Lord (Exodus 35); the wise in heart accepted commands (Proverbs 10); the discerning heart sought knowledge (Proverbs 15); the heart at peace gave life to the body (Proverbs 14); and a merry heart is medicinal (Proverbs 17)!

Jesus said that the pure in heart will see God (Matthew 5); the seed that falls on the noble and good heart will bring forth fruit (Luke 8); and the mouth declares what the heart is full of (Matthew 12). Jesus warned that what comes out of a person’s mouth defiles them since it comes out of the heart. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts – murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” (Matthew 15).

These and other scriptures confirm that the condition of the heart governs the relationship with God and determines behavior toward people. No wonder Proverbs 4:23 exhorts, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

When God speaks about the heart, He is referring to the core of who we are—our thoughts, desires, will, and affections—because it is from the heart that our faith is formed, our decisions are made, and our love for Him and others flows.

If so, what are the keys that will align our hearts towards God and man?

1. Tuning Through Prayer

When people wanted to prepare themselves to know God, they sought Him in prayer. When Daniel understood from the Scriptures that it was time for the exiles to return to their land, he turned to the Lord God in prayer and petition, fasting, and sackcloth. Prayer, along with praise and worship, makes our hearts sensitive to the Lord and sets them in harmony with His purposes. It moves us to comprehend His heart and be tuned to it!

Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesian church to have a heart-level understanding of their faith and for a full grasp of God’s magnificent calling. He knew that only when Christ’s plans and purposes saturated their hearts their lives would change. Jesus prayed for all His disciples, present and future, to be one. As our High Priest today

He is praying for us, seated on the right-hand side of the Father. Nothing softens hardened hearts, opens closed doors, and breaks down strongholds as prayer!

2. Revelation of the Holy Spirit

When Peter declared Jesus the Son of God, he told him that it was a revelation from the Father. Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesian church to be granted the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. True heart enlightenment comes from revelation, not from information or any other source. Since it is the Spirit of God Who searches all things of God, only He can reveal God to us. In this age, people think all information, including about God, is wealth.

Assuming spiritual insight and godly progress come from information, they resort to the internet. Real transformation happens only when a heart is overwhelmed by revelation and acquiring insight through the Spirit of God, for the natural man cannot comprehend the things of God.

Spiritual aspects can capture our hearts only as the Holy Spirit enlightens us!

3. Saturated by the Word of God

Being saturated with and soaked in the Word of God is key for heart alignment.

In the Psalms, David prayed that his words and his heart meditation would be acceptable in God’s sight. He hid God’s Word in his heart so he would not sin, and he reiterated his love for God’s precepts, commands, law, etc. Being conversant with and understanding the Word of God is crucial for a heart ordered toward God.

Mere memorizing, quoting, or even teaching God’s Word will not help. Only when we know God’s Word, study it well, interpret it correctly, and internalize it fully will our hearts change. The Word must become flesh in us, part and parcel of our daily life choices and decisions, if our hearts are to be thoroughly perceptive of God and His Spirit.

Assimilating His Word and seeking to constantly and consciously implement it in your life is crucial to a responsive heart!

4. Interaction With the Community of Faith

Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” “People learn from each other, as one iron tool can make another one sharp.” Colossians 2 notes that world philosophy is different from Christ’s philosophy.

The only society built based on, and is focused on, the principles of God is the church. New Testament writers wrote much about encouraging one another, building each other up, and admonishing believers to see how inventive they could be in encouraging love and helping out each other. They were asked not to avoid worshipping together but to spur one another on, especially as they saw the big Day approaching. Being part of a community is crucial to having a heart oriented toward God since we influence and impact one another to be disciples and followers of Christ despite troubles or oppositions.

Attending church services once a week is not enough to cultivate a heart fully devoted to God. The early Christians turned the world upside down because they met often, both in small groups and large gatherings, allowing God’s presence in the community to shape their hearts.

The church community was also a safeguard against false teachings and spiritual error, preserving hearts from being led astray. God designed His people to grow together in truth, under the counsel of elders and deacons who guided them in faith. Individualism in Christianity was unheard of because baptism signified entry into a spiritual family—one where hearts were united in love, steadfast in devotion, and anchored in God’s truth.

Endgame

Prophet Jeremiah notes the heart being heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. If so, keeping our hearts firmly rooted and built up in Christ is mandatory. Not doing so would be detrimental to our Christian faith walk, family life, and church consensus.

The world easily sways a heart not anchored in Christ, but a heart steadfast in Him becomes a wellspring of life, reflecting His love, wisdom, and truth in all we do. When our hearts are firmly rooted in Christ, they become a source of life, mirroring His love, wisdom, and truth in all our actions. However, a heart without Christ as its anchor is easily influenced by worldly things.

May the Lord help us be people who love Him with our whole hearts!