How to Guard Your Heart

We as Christian women are constantly being told to guard our hearts. But what does doing so look like, and why is it so important?

God tells Christians to guard their hearts.

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” (Proverbs 4:23, NLT)

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

In the Hebrew language, the word for guard can be used interchangeably with the word for keep. Keep in Hebrew literally means to set a watchman over something.

We need to set a watch over our hearts and minds.

But what exactly does that look like?

Here a few ways to be proactive about guarding your heart in relationships and just in everyday life:

• Get in the Word.

The world’s temptation can only be combated with truth. Studying and applying God’s Word to your life will help you with guarding your heart and mind. Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.” Meditate on verses that will help you think on things that are pure and honoring to God. (12 Verses on Purity That You Should Know)

• Pray.

Having a relationship with God will keep your heart and mind in the right place. And praying, along with reading the Bible, will help you grow your relationship with Him. When you experience temptation, pray that the Lord will strengthen you. Pray that He will keep your heart guarded from the enemy.

• Make priorities and don’t compromise.

Most people today think that making priorities and boundaries is unnecessary. But if you want to keep your heart guarded from outside temptation, this is necessary. Write your standards down if you would like. And don’t worry if you standards and priorities are high. The higher they are, the less likely you are to fall into temptation.

• Remove things that cause you to fall.

In today’s society, temptation is everywhere. From movies. To books. To music. Everywhere you go, you will see the enemy trying to make you compromise. Whatever is causing your impure thoughts and is making you compromise you standards, get rid of it.

• Get accountability.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.“ Having someone to be accountable to will be such a help to you. When you feel tempted, reach out to them for their prayer and support. Your battle will be fought much quicker with others by your side.

Guarding our hearts is extremely necessary as daughters of the King.

Whether you are trying to guard your heart for you future husband or just as a Christian girl trying to honor God, I hope these tips will help.

Always try to keep your heart from temptation. Because if you guard your heart, it is showing honor to the Lord and keeping you protected in the long run.

In His amazing love,

Hannah Marie

What other ways can you guard your heart from temptation? Why is it so important that we guard our hearts for the Lord?