Matters of the heart
If there is one thing that I’ve come to learn through my pursuit of God, it’s this: He is so deeply invested in the condition of our hearts. Not our platforms. Not how polished we look to others. Not the goals we’re ticking off or the aesthetics we’ve mastered. He’s concerned with the things most people don’t see. The posture of our hearts, the purity of our motives, the truth behind our intentions. It’s the inner life He’s watching. And it matters more than we often realise.
This became especially clear to me while reading 1 Samuel 16:7, where God speaks to the prophet Samuel as he prepares to anoint the next king of Israel:
“Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
I had to sit with this one. It hit different. Because we live in a world obsessed with the exterior. But God? He’s looking at the hidden things, the parts we often ignore or try to dress up. And so I found myself asking a simple but piercing question:
Lord, why are You so concerned with my heart?
In my search for understanding, I was led to two foundational scriptures:
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good… for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
(Luke 6:45, KJV)
“Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.”
(Proverbs 4:23, AMP)
Together, they paint a clear picture: Everything that flows from our lives, from our words, to our actions, and our responses - originates in the heart. It’s the wellspring. The source. And whatever we’ve stored there, whether love, bitterness, pride, or truth, will eventually spill out. No matter how well we think we’re hiding it. Just like a tree can't bear fruit that doesn't match its seed, our hearts will always reveal the kind of life we’re truly living. Jesus put it like this:
“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” (Matthew 7:18, AMP)
That’s not just a statement, it’s a warning. We can say all the right things, quote all the right verses, and even serve in the right spaces, but if our hearts are off, the fruit will show it.
This isn’t just about personal reflection. It’s also a call to discernment , to open our eyes to what’s real in a world where so much is curated, filtered, and performative. Matthew 7:16 says “You will know them by their fruits.” That’s the invitation; not to judge harshly, but to discern wisely. Words can be rehearsed. Platforms can be built. But if you pause and observe a person’s life; how they treat people, how they handle correction, how they move when no one’s watching, you’ll see their heart more clearly than any caption can reveal.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not about being suspicious. It’s about being anchored, knowing that truth is consistent, and character always outlasts charisma.
Let’s be honest, on the surface, a lot of us are doing the same things. We’re working out, eating clean, prioritising rest and wellness. And from the outside, it can all look virtuous. But it’s the heart behind it that tells the real story. Person A is fuelled by image. They want to look good, be admired, maybe even validated by the attention of others. Their health routine is about control, appearance, and external reward. Person B, however, recognises that their body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. They move with reverence, knowing that to steward their body well is to honour the One who dwells within it. They understand that this body is the vessel through which their purpose is fulfilled. And once the body breaks down, their assignment; completed or not, ends here.
Same habits. Different hearts. And God, who sees clearly, makes the distinction.
This is why the matters of the heart should be front and centre in our lives as believers. Because two people can sing the same song, serve in the same church, post the same Scripture, and only one of them is truly worshipping. The other is performing. One is surrendered. The other is self-seeking.
I believe one of the most honest, necessary prayers we can pray is found in Psalm 139:23–24:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my thoughts.
See if there be any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.”
It takes so much courage and humility to pray like that. To ask God to look beneath the surface and not just show us what’s off, but lead us into something better. Something eternal.
We’re living in a time where a lot of things look spiritual, but aren’t rooted in truth. It’s easy to mimic godliness, to curate a Christian aesthetic, to speak in tongues on Sunday and gossip on Monday. But if the heart isn’t in it , if the motive is self rather than Spirit… it’s empty.
God isn’t looking for perfection. He’s looking for purity. For honesty. For hearts that are open enough to say, “God, if there’s anything in me that doesn’t reflect You, take it out.” So this is my encouragement, and maybe even a gentle challenge:
Don’t just do the right things, do them from the right place.
Don’t just perform purity, pursue it.
Don’t just look the part, let your heart be the part.
Because what’s inside will come out, and God is far more concerned with what flows from your heart than what’s seen by the world.
P, xo
