It Starts Small

²³ Guard your heart above all else,
for it is the source of life.

Proverbs 4:23

According to the Bible and Proverbs 4:23, examining your heart and motives is a life-long process of active vigilance, self-reflection, and prayer guided by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word. The verse “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life” emphasizes that the heart is the “wellspring of life”. 

In biblical terms, the “heart” refers to the totality of your inner self—including your mind, will, emotions, and conscience—from which your actions, thoughts, and words originate. Examining this center requires intentional effort because, as Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things”. 

Methods for biblical heart examination

1. Pray and invite God to reveal your heart

Since only God can truly know the heart (Jeremiah 17:10), the process of self-examination must begin by inviting Him into it.

Pray like David did in Psalm 139:23–24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”.

Depend on the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit guides and convicts believers, helping them identify hidden sins and impure motives. 

2. Test your heart against the Word of God

God’s Word is a powerful tool for discernment. Hebrews 4:12 describes it as “living and active… piercing to the division of soul and of spirit… discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart”. 

Identify inconsistencies: Study Scripture to understand God’s character and His will. As you read, reflect on areas where your thoughts, desires, or behaviors do not align with His teachings.

Fill your heart with truth: Consciously meditating on God’s Word keeps your heart on the right path and produces a harvest of righteousness. 

3. Examine the “fruit” of your actions

Jesus taught that what is in your heart will be revealed by your actions and words. A person with a good heart produces good things, while an evil heart produces evil (Luke 6:45, Matthew 12:34–35). 

Trace your behavior: Ask yourself, “What was my motivation for that action or that conversation?” Analyze the underlying reasons for your words and deeds.

Look at your prayer life: James 4:3 reveals that prayers can be hindered by selfish motives. Ask if you are praying for God’s glory or for your own pleasure.

Evaluate your generosity: The Bible warns against performing righteous acts to be seen by others (Matthew 6:1). Check if your giving and service are done with a sincere heart to honor God. 

4. Practice humility and confession

Because your heart can deceive you, it is important to maintain a humble posture and confess any sins or impure motives that are revealed.

Confess immediately: When the Holy Spirit exposes sin in your heart, confess it to God. 1 John 1:9 promises that He will forgive your sins and cleanse you from all wickedness.

Confront impure motives: Acknowledge and confess mixed motives, asking God to help you grow in purity of heart. 

5. Set healthy boundaries

Guarding your heart involves intentional and diligent effort to protect it from harmful influences. 

Watch your “gates”: Be mindful of what you allow to enter your heart through your “eye gates” (what you watch) and “ear gates” (what you hear).

Reject corrupt thoughts: Actively monitor your thoughts, casting down anything that goes against the knowledge of God and bringing them into obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). 

By adopting these practices, you can cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the lifelong journey of guarding your heart, ensuring that your motives are aligned with God’s will and that “the issues of life” that flow from you are pure.

Deeper Introspection:

The practice of using journal prompts to examine your heart and motives, guided by God’s Word, is a powerful way to pursue a more sincere and Christ-like life. According to Proverbs 4:23, guarding your heart is essential because “everything you do flows from it”. As Jeremiah 17:9-10 reminds us, the heart is deceitful, so this spiritual discipline requires us to invite God to search us and reveal our true motives.

Prompts based on prayer and scripture

These questions are designed to be answered in a posture of prayer, inviting the Holy Spirit to reveal your hidden thoughts and intentions. Use Psalm 139:23-24 as your starting point: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”.

• Ask for revelation: Lord, what is the truest motive behind my most recent actions, words, and thoughts?
• Acknowledge dependence: What hidden attitudes am I harboring that you want to bring to light? Help me to see my heart as you see it.
• Pray for guidance: Are there any desires or affections in my heart that are drawing me away from you? How can I redirect them toward you?

Prompts based on your actions

Our behavior is a key indicator of our heart’s condition. Jesus taught that a person’s life demonstrates what is in their heart (Luke 6:45). Examining the “fruit” of your life can reveal the roots in your heart.

• Look at your conversations: What was my true motive for a recent conversation? Was it to build up, or was it rooted in a desire to be right, to get my way, or to gossip?
• Examine your generosity: Am I giving or serving with a heart of humility and love, or is there a part of me that wants to be seen and praised by others? (Matthew 6:1)
• Reflect on relationships: How am I showing love to others? Is it driven by genuine care for them, or by a desire to gain something in return?
• Assess your reactions: What was my first reaction to a frustrating or disappointing situation this week? What does that reveal about what I truly trust in—my own control or God’s plan?

Prompts based on your inner life

Your internal spiritual disciplines, such as your prayer life, reveal a lot about your deepest motives and desires.

• Consider your prayer life: What are you currently praying for that feels impossible, and what is the motive behind your persistence? Is there a prayer you are afraid to pray? Why?
• Evaluate your surrenders: What is one thing you have not told God but need to? Are there any areas of your life you are holding onto and not letting God control?
• Check your identity: What does God say about you, and how does that differ from what you say about yourself? Is your identity rooted in your performance or in Christ? (1 Peter 2:9)

Prompts for ongoing growth and correction

Self-examination is not a one-time event, but a continual practice of humility and repentance that fosters ongoing spiritual growth.

• Assess your spiritual growth: What habits are hindering you from spending more time with God? What is one way you can apply a recent Bible teaching to become more Christ-like?
• Embrace humility: What temptations keep showing up in your life? What is one regret you need to bring to the cross for forgiveness?
• Review past insights: Review your journal reflections from past months. Do you see any themes or lessons emerging? How has God been shaping you?

When using these prompts, remember that the purpose is not self-condemnation but transformation. As you truthfully confess your heart and motives to God, he promises to be “faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

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