How Scripture Talks About Our Feelings, Thoughts, and Choices
When people think of the heart, they often imagine the organ that keeps us alive. But in the Bible, the heart stands for much more—it’s described as the center of what makes each person unique. The heart covers our emotions, our thoughts, our desires, and the choices we make. In simple terms, it’s where everything inside us comes together.
The Heart: More Than Emotions
The Bible talks about the heart as the part of us that not only feels, but also thinks, understands, and plans. The words for “heart” in the Bible—lev in Hebrew and kardia in Greek—mean our whole inner life. So the heart is much more than just feelings; it’s also our thoughts, our understanding of things, and what we really want deep down.
Desires and Decisions
Our deepest wishes and choices come from the heart, according to scripture. It’s where we decide what matters most and what actions we’ll take. The heart guides our will, shaping what we do and how we behave.
Examples From the Bible
· Proverbs 4:23: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” This verse shows that our heart is like the source of a river—what’s inside shapes all our words and actions.
· Mark 12:30: Jesus says to “love the Lord your God with all your heart.” Loving God isn’t just about emotions—it’s about giving your whole self, your thoughts and desires too.
· Matthew 12:34: Jesus explains, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” This means what we say gives away what’s really going on inside us.
· Deuteronomy 6:5: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart.” This shows that true love for God includes both how we feel and how we think about God.
The Heart as a Decision-Maker
The heart acts like the decision-maker for our life. Its condition affects our spiritual and moral health. That’s why the Bible tells us to guard our heart carefully, making sure our thoughts and actions stay right.
Why It Matters
Because the heart is the source of everything we do, the Bible teaches us to pay close attention to it. Keeping our heart healthy—full of good desires and wise thoughts—helps us live in a way that’s true and good.
Minister A Francine Green
October 2025
afrancinegreen.com 