Don’t Follow Your Heart: Do This Instead | Joseph Prince Ministries
In a world that often encourages us to “follow our hearts,” the wisdom found in Scripture invites us to a radically different way of life. As believers, we’re called to guard our hearts—not to follow every fleeting feeling, but to anchor ourselves in God’s truth. Let’s take a closer look at what it really means to guard your heart, why it matters, and how embracing this biblical principle will unlock the fullness of God’s promises in your life.
The Call to Protect What’s Inside
We all know the importance of safeguarding aspects of our lives—caring for our children, being mindful of our finances, watching what we eat, and monitoring what we let into our homes. These are wise practices. However, Scripture indicates that there’s something even more critical to protect: our own hearts. Proverbs 4:23 commands, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
While it’s important to take responsibility for our external circumstances, God’s primary concern is with the condition of our hearts. The inner life—our thoughts, imaginations, and attitudes—sets the course for everything else. If we don’t watch over our hearts, the reality is, we can easily become vulnerable to fear, discouragement, and negative influences that ultimately hinder us from experiencing God’s best.
Understanding the Importance of “Heart” in the Bible
The heart in the Bible is more than just the physical organ or a poetic way of saying “feelings.” In both the Old and New Testaments, the heart often refers to the core of one’s being—the seat of thoughts, imagination, feeling, and will. In Hebrew, the word “lev” is used, and in Greek, it’s “kardia”—both pointing to the center of a person, where intentions and imaginations are conceived.
It’s common to confuse the heart with the spirit, but the Bible distinguishes between the two. Your spirit connects you with God; your soul relates to your environment and emotions, while your body connects with the physical world. The “heart,” according to Scripture, is where imagination takes root and begins to shape our realities.
How Do We Guard Our Hearts?
Eye Gate and Ear Gate—The Pathways to the Heart
Guarding your heart starts by being mindful of what you allow through your eyes and ears. Proverbs 4:20-21 says, “My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart.”