What do you find yourself loving, desiring, disliking, or fearing? Where does your mind go when it wanders? What affects your emotions—anger, happiness, sadness? All of these reveal what is on your heart.
We are called to “keep” our hearts and lead them in the right direction:
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” - Proverbs 4:23
“Set your affection on things above.” - Colossians 3:2
“Guide thine heart in the way.” - Proverbs 23:19
How does this work with God changing our hearts? God influences our will (Philippians 2:13), and with our will and the Holy Spirit’s power, we can conquer the thoughts of our hearts and love Him wholeheartedly.
This can take time to become consistent; you might find yourself wholeheartedly loving God as you worship and surrender, and later in the day you might be selfish. Yet the more we intentionally focus on Jesus, the more consistency we will have in living with pure hearts.
We are sanctified by truth (John 17:17), so we must take time to let truth sink into our hearts.
We can change our beliefs by meditating on truth: (1) speaking out loud, (2) repeating, (3) falling asleep while listening to something relevant. We also direct our hearts with conscious choices, as Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
It helps to have set times to practice letting truth sink into your heart. To “keep your heart with all diligence,” make it part of your routine.
Examine your thoughts often. Use an interval timer (every 30 seconds) to stop and move thoughts to the forefront to make conscious choices rather than letting your mind wander.
Since emotions are of the heart, influence them to promote passion for God and others. We don’t follow emotions, but we can lead them. Singing is an excellent way to direct emotions to God.
Don’t go on with life as usual; start a habit of “keeping your heart” intentionally.
“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Deuteronomy 6:5
“I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:10