What does guarding our hearts look like, pragmatically?

I am a dog with a bone on this topic, but I'd like some more feedback on this. Please bare with me...

I often hear the words guard our hearts, and I know He does…

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 NASB

I think we are to be wise, for sure. There is no way we can know the true heart of someone. But if we are guarded even in balance, showing both gentleness and wisdom, how can we show the Love of Jesus, and let Him shine? We are called to extend thanksgiving, showing love, hospitality, kindness, mercy, goodness, service, meekness, humility, hope and on and on, right? We also know that we are not to gossip and slander, create strife, mock, be bitter, unkind, unmerciful, filled with malice and contention, selfish and prideful, self righteous and condemning, and also in these ways on and on.

So where is the balance, what exactly does the guarding our hearts suppose to look like? Is it as simple as this...

Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.
Romans 16:17

Are we just to simply stay away from those that act contrary to His will, but pray for them. I think so. I know we are human, and thus will probably always fall short on the way we love ppl, which is another way we will also fall short in loving Him? Plus, there is only so much time in a day. However, I am fully aware, He will help us to be sincere, selfless, and to be sufficient.

I know if we have a heart wide open, it is susceptible to hurt, that we are more vulnerable. Perhaps, He will have to show me and guide me on the pragmatics of how we are suppose to be with one another. After all, I'm not a wee one, quite the contrary. I have grand wee ones, for crying ot loud, lol. I think that who we are to be within our nature in Him should include sincerity, grace, humility, and wisdom. I also think that we are to make sure our intentions are honorable. Perhaps we have to ensure that we love with all our hearts and minds, but do so, hoping to show Him, not ourselves. Perhaps, this is it, hmmmmm? Maybe when we are loving to feed what only He should, we will get hurt and come up empty. He wants us to love others, not glorify them. I think this is where I struggle. Hmmmmm, I thoroughly enjoy thoughts worked through. I think He wants us too deeply care for others, take precious tender care of them, but depletion and harm comes when even our love isn't properly distributed.

I think a heart for mercy is such a precious and priceless gift. We must not operate, though, from a wounded place, one yearning for acceptance and mercy. After all, those we are only to get from only Him. I think it is time for a good bible study….

I am far too old to be this young

A drama free and peaceful heart is found in only Him.

Another thought, I was putting away dishes and thinking on this some more. It is such a blessing to grow our love and our capacity to extend mercy. So much of that is done in how we respond and react to those not so easy to love. Thank You Jesus, in all circumstances, You are a Blessing.

Maybe guarding our hearts isn't as much about not letting love and kindness out as it is how much we place our self-esteem and feelings of whether we've done right or not on other people's reactions to our actions and behavior. ie it's not about what you let out as it is what you let in deep enough to change you.

I think "guarding the heart" is simply a matter of trusting God's word, rather than trusting the emotions of the heart.

The Bible says our own hearts are deceitful.... they cannot be trusted.
What is not deceitful; what is always perfect and true?
God's word.

To guard your heart is to continually align your heart with God's word.... this is what protects your heart.


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I want you to know your response provided for me a literally epiphanic moment. U r so spot on. Thanks Cinder.

These responses are edifying to my faith and understanding, thank you.

Guarding your heart is very important. There are 2 main gates to your soul. Your heart (emotions, feelings,..) and the mind (controls thoughts and actions)
guarding your heart has something to do about not letting everything hurt you. Many voices come against us
Isaiah 54:17
No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the Lord.

Psalm 118:13-14
They surrounded me like bees;
They were quenched like a fire of thorns;
For in the name of the Lord I will [a]destroy them.
13 You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
But the Lord helped me.

So we need the breastplate of righteousness against the darts

Proverbs 4:13 also says
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.

Seriously, a thousand thank yous. I found wisdom spiced throughout your words and the verses you shared.

I really like this because it points to our need to respond with strength and mercy regardless the approach given to us...

13 You pushed me violently, that I might fall, But the Lord helped me.

The way that is possible is with His help. Thank you.

love u sis xxx

Thank you for your love. It is a blessing to me, truly. I love you too, Sis. Hugs and God Bless you and your precious others.

So much for the 'pragmatically' part.

Explain, brother, must know more. Pleaseeeee!!!

I was just pointing out how none of the replies were pragmatic. Sorry.

how about get a hammer, and wood, build a literal fence around your ribs and forehead.

if that's not what you have in mind, please define what you mean by pragmatically

does practical always mean "physical"?

is helpful information even physical? besides being ink on paper that reflect light to one's eyes and the brain perceive the image, and the brain interpret the image in the brain, to decode the information

please define "practical"

Oh I see, I think they do help me to be more pragmatic when dealing with emotions. And that ultimately, in application, take it back to my Lord. I guess also, I get to see how others find strength and how they define what guarding our hearts is to them. I like that we can and should love and extend love, even those hard to love, but guard our hearts and minds from being to invested in the return, only His.

Hahaha @get a hammer... That might help. I suppose that I was seeking ways of application. But a healthy correct mindset produces more practical actions and reactions. I think for me, where I struggle is in the reactions to unkind and unfavorable responses. We are to love sincerely regardless the return. How we handle a negative return speaks to our need to guard ourselves in Him so we can remain loving and forgiving, and move forward.

Guarding ones heart has a lot to do with the verse about not being blown about with every wind.

I have hidden Your word in my heart, so I won't sin against You.

That's why righteousness is so important. It guards the heart, where the word is. Think about it: When people and churches fall away, what goes first? They never drop their doctrine first. They never say "We're going to keep all these standards of holiness that we live by, but we're chunking our doctrine." It's always righteousness that goes first. They let their standards slip a little bit and they do okay FOR A WHILE... they seem to be prospering, lots of people are coming, church is always full, they're having a big old time because they loosened up a bit on those restrictive standards... but then AFTER that, the doctrine they held to all those years starts chipping away.

Of course I'm not claiming every standard of holiness should be upheld forever. Some are a product of the time and place where that particular church is, and they might be different in another place, or they might need to be jettisoned or modified as times change. But the PRINCIPLE that causes the standards never changes. And the principle is, you need to be careful what you partake of, what you watch, where you go, what you participate in, because there are some things you can do that will start chipping away at everything you believe.

Extreme example: You don't go over to a friend's house to ask his ouija board questions about your future. You don't go to a party you know christians shouldn't be at. Etcetera.

I think the definition of practical means "it works, battle tested, not just look good on paper, and definitely not wishful thinking"

whatever looks good on paper will be wonderful in heaven, right?