Welcome to “The Heart Check” devotional study! We live in a world where it’s so easy for our hearts to become hardened by negativity, hurt, and the constant barrage of bad news.
As followers of Christ, we’re called to rise above these influences and reflect God’s love in everything we do. But how do we do that when it feels like everything around us is pushing us towards anger, frustration, and bitterness?
This study is all about examining our hearts and learning how to keep them pure and aligned with God’s love.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll dive into what the Bible says about our hearts and our words, and how we can guard them against the world’s negativity.
We’ll explore Jesus’ teachings on loving our enemies, responding with grace, and truly living out His command to love others as He loves us.
Each lesson will give us practical steps and reflections to help us put these teachings into practice.
We’ll look at key scriptures that remind us of the importance of a pure heart and loving words, and how these can transform not just our own lives, but the lives of those around us.
So, let’s start this journey together with open hearts, ready to let God’s Word shape us and guide us.
Let’s commit to thinking before we speak or respond, always remembering to reflect Jesus in all we do. By continually purifying our hearts, we can be a powerful witness to God’s love in a world that desperately needs it.
(You can download a printable version (ad-free) at the very bottom of the page.)
Lesson 1 – Understanding the Heart Condition
Our hearts are constantly under attack from the world around us. With so much negativity in the news and the often toxic atmosphere on social media, it’s easy for our hearts to become hardened.
Jeremiah 17:9 tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.”
This shows just how much we need to be careful about the condition of our hearts. So, what does this mean for us as Christians living in a world full of hate, persecution, and sin?
Our hearts are the source of our actions and attitudes.
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
This means that if our hearts become hard, our actions and words will reflect that hardness. We might find ourselves reacting to others with impatience, anger, or even hatred—especially towards those who persecute us or are caught up in sinful behaviors.
But Jesus calls us to a higher standard. He asks us to reflect Him in everything we do. Remember when Jesus was on the cross and asked for forgiveness for those who crucified Him?
That incredible act of love and compassion is our model. But how can we live up to this in a world that seems determined to harden our hearts?
First, we need to recognize our need for God’s help.
David’s prayer in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me,” is a powerful one to repeat every day. It shows that we can’t purify our hearts on our own—we need God’s transformative power to soften and renew them.
Second, we have to be intentional about guarding our hearts. This means being careful about what we consume—both in media and in our daily interactions.
Are we spending too much time scrolling through divisive content on social media? Are we engaging in conversations that stir up anger and resentment?
Proverbs 4:23 reminds us that “everything we do flows from our hearts,” so we need to protect them from hardening influences.
Lastly, we must practice love and compassion in our daily lives. This is tough, especially towards those who mistreat us or live in ways that go against our values.
But Jesus calls us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). This kind of radical love can only come from a heart that has been purified and renewed by God.
Let’s commit to daily heart checks, letting God search and examine our hearts (Jeremiah 17:10). Let’s ask for His help in creating pure hearts within us, and be intentional about guarding our hearts against the world’s hardening influences.
By doing so, we’ll be better equipped to reflect Jesus’ love and compassion to everyone we meet, even in a world filled with hate and persecution.
Lesson 2 – The Mouth Speaks from the Heart
Our words have so much power. They can lift someone up or tear them down, bless them or hurt them.
Jesus reminds us in Luke 6:45 and Matthew 12:34 that “the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” This means that whatever is in our hearts will eventually come out through our words.
James gives us another important reminder about our words.
In James 3:9-10, he says, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
It’s kind of shocking, right? How can we praise God one moment and then speak harshly to someone the next?
The truth is, our speech reflects what’s really going on in our hearts. If our hearts are full of love, grace, and compassion, our words will show it.
But if our hearts are full of bitterness, anger, or resentment, that’s going to come out too. So, it’s super important to keep our hearts in check and let God transform them.
In today’s world, it feels like our hearts are under attack all the time. Social media can be a huge problem, with all the negativity, arguments, and harsh words flying around. It’s easy to get sucked into that and start speaking in ways that don’t honor God or show His love.
Plus, with all the bad news, divisive politics, and cultural conflicts, it’s hard not to let fear, frustration, and cynicism take over. If we’re not careful, those feelings will seep into how we talk to others, especially those we disagree with or who mistreat us.
To counteract this, we need to fill our hearts with God’s truth and love. Spending time in prayer, reading the Bible, and hanging out with other believers can help us keep our hearts aligned with Christ. When our hearts are full of His love, our words will naturally reflect that.
Let’s make an effort to be consistent in our speech. The same mouth that praises God should also speak kindness, encouragement, and truth to others.
By doing this, we can show the world the transformative love of Christ, even when everything around us promotes negativity and discord.
Lesson 3 – Loving Like Jesus Would
Loving others like Jesus does is a tall order. But it’s at the very heart of what it means to be a follower of Christ.
Jesus summed up the greatest commandments in Matthew 22:37-39: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
This makes it clear that loving others is central to our faith.
Jesus takes it a step further in John 13:34-35, where He says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
The standard here is high—Jesus wants us to love others the way He loves us. This kind of love is supposed to be the hallmark of being His disciple. People should recognize us as followers of Jesus by the way we love.
So, what does this love look like in practice?
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 gives us a beautiful description: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
This passage shows us that love is more than just a feeling—it’s a series of actions and attitudes that reflect Christ’s character.
In today’s world, loving like Jesus can be challenging. We’re surrounded by negativity, divisiveness, and a lot of hurt. Social media and the news can make it easy to see people through a lens of judgment rather than love.
But as followers of Christ, we’re called to rise above that and show His love to everyone, even those who are difficult to love.
One of the best ways to start loving others like Jesus is to remind ourselves of how He loves us. Jesus loves us unconditionally, with patience and kindness, forgiving us even when we mess up.
When we truly understand and accept His love for us, it becomes easier to extend that same love to others.
Loving like Jesus means being patient and kind, even when people annoy us or hurt us. It means not holding grudges and being willing to forgive. It means putting others first and looking out for their best interests.
It means celebrating truth and goodness, and protecting and trusting those we love.
It’s not always easy, but with God’s help, we can love others the way Jesus does. When we do, we become a powerful witness to the world of His amazing love.
Lesson 4 – Responding Like Jesus Would
We live in a world where hate seems to be everywhere. Whether it’s in the news, on social media, or even in our daily interactions, it can be really hard to stay loving and kind.
But Jesus calls us to respond to hate in a way that’s totally different from what we might naturally want to do.
In Matthew 5:43-48, He tells us to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” This is a radical kind of love that goes beyond loving just our friends and family.
Jesus goes even deeper in Luke 6:27-36. He says, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
This is tough stuff! He’s asking us to turn the other cheek, to give generously even when we might not get anything back, and to treat others the way we want to be treated.
This kind of response is so counter-cultural, especially in a world that often promotes getting even or standing our ground.
Paul’s words in Romans 12:14-21 echo Jesus’ teachings. He writes, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse… Do not repay anyone evil for evil… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Paul is reminding us that responding to hate with more hate just leads to more harm. Instead, we should respond with love and kindness, trusting that God will take care of justice.
So, how do we respond like Jesus in a world full of hate?
First, we need to keep our focus on God’s love for us. Remember that He loves us unconditionally, even when we mess up.
When we truly grasp how much He loves us, it becomes easier to extend that love to others—even those who hurt us.
Second, we should pray for those who mistreat us. This can be really hard, but prayer changes our hearts. It helps us to see others the way God sees them and to soften our hearts towards them.
Third, we need to act in love, even when we don’t feel like it. This might mean doing something kind for someone who has been mean to us or refusing to say something negative about someone who has hurt us.
It’s about choosing to respond in a way that reflects Jesus’ love and grace.
Finally, we need to trust God to handle justice. It’s not our job to get even or to make things right. God is in control, and He will take care of it. Our job is to love and to show His love to everyone we meet.
By responding like Jesus, we can be a light in a world full of darkness. We can show others that there’s a better way—a way of love, grace, and peace.
Reflection
In a world filled with negativity and hate, it’s so important to think before we speak or respond to something hurtful or to someone caught in sin.
Remember, our words and actions should reflect Jesus’ love and grace. Jesus calls us to love our enemies, pray for those who mistreat us, and respond with kindness and patience, no matter how hard it may be.
This devotional study has shown us that our hearts are the source of our actions and words. If we want to truly reflect God’s love to others, we need to continually purify our hearts and fill them with His love and truth.
By doing so, we can overcome the negative influences around us and respond to others in a way that honors God.
So, next time you’re tempted to respond in anger or frustration, pause and ask yourself, “How would Jesus respond?”
Let’s commit to guarding our hearts, praying for those who hurt us, and showing love even in the toughest situations. By keeping our hearts pure and focused on God, we can be a powerful witness to His amazing love and transform the world around us.
Heavenly Father, help us to reflect Your love in all we do. Purify our hearts and guide our words and actions so that they always honor You. Teach us to respond like Jesus, showing love and grace to everyone we encounter. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
- When was the last time you felt deeply encouraged by someone’s words? How did it impact your day or your outlook?
- How do you currently handle receiving negative comments or criticism? What steps can you take to ensure your response reflects Jesus’ love?
- Think about the people you interact with daily. How can you intentionally speak life into their lives this week?
- What are some practical ways you can incorporate more prayer and reflection into your daily routine to guard your heart?
- How does trusting God with justice change your perspective on dealing with conflicts and hurtful situations?
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