What’s Inside of You?
Have you ever made a poor decision and later asked yourself, “Why did I do that?”
Perhaps you said something you wish you could take back. Maybe you reacted in anger. Or perhaps you made a choice that seemed small at the time but caused problems later.
I have learned that many of our outward struggles begin with what is happening inside us.
As a Christian writer and someone who studies the Scriptures, I have discovered an important truth: our inner life matters. What we allow into our hearts and minds can eventually influence our words, choices, relationships, and direction.
Therefore, today I want us to examine one important question:
What’s inside of you?
More importantly, are you intentionally filling your heart and mind with things that draw you closer to the Lord Jesus Christ?
Your Inner Life Matters
In the Old Testament, the heart often represented the center of a person’s inner life. It included thoughts, desires, emotions, intentions, and decisions.
That helps us understand the meaning behind Proverbs 4:23:
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” — Proverbs 4:23, KJV
In other words, we cannot afford to ignore what happens inside us.
Our thoughts influence our attitudes. Our attitudes influence our words. Our words can influence our actions. Then, over time, our actions can shape the direction of our lives.
Therefore, guarding your heart does not simply mean protecting your feelings.
It means paying attention to what you allow to shape your inner life.
What Goes In Eventually Comes Out
Imagine filling a cup with water.
If you fill it with clean water, clean water comes out.
However, if you fill it with muddy water, muddy water comes out.
Our inner lives work in a similar way.
If we constantly fill our minds with anger, fear, bitterness, jealousy, negativity, and unhealthy desires, those things can eventually influence how we speak and behave.
On the other hand, when we fill our minds with Scripture, prayer, gratitude, faith, encouragement, and the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, those things can begin to influence our responses.
That does not mean Christians will never struggle.
We will.
However, what we repeatedly place inside ourselves can influence how we respond when those struggles come.
A Small Choice Can Become a Big Direction
Consider someone who becomes frustrated at work.
At first, the frustration seems harmless.
Then the person starts replaying the situation in their mind.
Next, they begin thinking negatively about their coworker.
Soon, they complain about the coworker to someone else.
Eventually, resentment grows.
What started as one frustrating moment has now become an unhealthy pattern.
Therefore, we must learn to deal with things before they take root.
A thought may enter your mind without your permission.
However, you do not have to entertain every thought that enters it.
Instead, bring your thoughts before the Lord Jesus.
Ask Him to help you recognize what is true, what is harmful, and what needs to change.
Guard Your Heart
Proverbs 4:23 tells us to guard our hearts.
That command requires action.
We cannot simply hope that our inner lives will remain healthy.
Instead, we must intentionally protect them.
For example, ask yourself:
- What am I watching?
- What am I listening to?
- What am I reading?
- Who am I allowing to influence me?
- What thoughts do I repeatedly entertain?
- What emotions am I holding onto?
- What do I talk about most?
- What occupies my mind when I am alone?
These questions can reveal what is happening inside us.
Sometimes the problem is not what we are experiencing.
Sometimes the problem is what we are allowing that experience to produce inside us.
Your Mind Needs Renewal
The Christian life involves more than changing outward behavior.
The Lord Jesus wants to work on us from the inside.
Romans 12:2 teaches:
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…” — Romans 12:2, KJV
Notice the emphasis on the renewing of the mind.
Therefore, spiritual growth involves learning to think differently.
Instead of allowing fear to control us, we can choose faith.
Instead of allowing bitterness to control us, we can choose forgiveness.
Instead of allowing hopelessness to control us, we can remember the promises of Scripture.
Instead of allowing the opinions of people to define us, we can allow the Word of the Lord Jesus to shape us.
This process takes time.
However, transformation happens as we continually surrender our thoughts, desires, and decisions to the Lord Jesus Christ.
What Are You Feeding Your Spirit?
Think about your physical body.
You understand that what you eat matters.
If you constantly consume unhealthy food, your body may eventually show the effects.
Likewise, what we continually consume spiritually and mentally matters.
Therefore, we should ask:
What am I feeding my inner life?
Are you feeding it fear?
Are you feeding it anger?
Are you feeding it comparison?
Are you feeding it constant negativity?
Or are you feeding it prayer, Scripture, worship, gratitude, faith, and encouragement?
This does not mean we should ignore the difficulties of life.
Instead, it means we should learn where to take those difficulties.
Take your fears to the Lord Jesus.
Take your disappointments to Him.
Take your questions to Him.
Take your failures to Him.
Take your broken places to Him.
Make the Lord Jesus the Center
The best way to guard our hearts is not simply to remove bad things.
We must also fill our lives with what is good.
Most importantly, we must make the Lord Jesus Christ the center of our lives.
He is our strength.
He is our hope.
He is our peace.
He is our Savior.
He is our Everlasting Father.
Therefore, instead of trying to fit the Lord Jesus into an already crowded schedule, we should build our daily lives around our relationship with Him.
That change can make a tremendous difference.
Instead of saying, “I will pray if I have time,” make prayer part of your daily rhythm.
Instead of saying, “I will read Scripture when things get better,” open the Bible while you are going through the struggle.
Instead of waiting until you are overwhelmed to seek the Lord Jesus, develop a relationship with Him every day.
Create Space for the Lord Jesus
Our schedules can become crowded very quickly.
Work demands our attention.
Family responsibilities require our time.
Bills need to be paid.
Messages need responses.
Social media constantly calls for our attention.
Before we realize it, an entire day has passed.
Therefore, we must intentionally create space for the Lord Jesus.
Start simply.
Spend a few quiet minutes in prayer.
Read a passage of Scripture.
Think about what you have read.
Thank the Lord Jesus for His blessings.
Ask Him to guide your decisions.
Then carry that awareness of Him throughout your day.
Spiritual growth does not always happen through dramatic moments.
Sometimes it happens through small, faithful decisions repeated day after day.
Let the Holy Spirit Speak to You
The Holy Spirit also plays an important role in our spiritual growth.
The Lord Jesus can use His Spirit and His Word to bring conviction, encouragement, correction, and direction.
Sometimes you may feel convicted about something you said.
Do not immediately run from that conviction.
Instead, stop and listen.
Ask the Lord Jesus:
“What are You showing me?”
Perhaps He is revealing an attitude that needs to change.
Perhaps He is showing you that you need to forgive someone.
Perhaps He is teaching you to control your words.
Perhaps He is calling you to trust Him instead of allowing fear to control your decisions.
Whatever the situation, allow the Lord Jesus to work on you from the inside.
Healing What Is Broken
Sometimes we struggle because something inside us remains wounded.
A painful experience may have changed how we see ourselves.
A betrayal may have made it difficult to trust.
A failure may have caused shame.
A rejection may have created insecurity.
A disappointment may have produced bitterness.
However, we do not have to allow yesterday’s wounds to control tomorrow’s decisions.
Bring those broken places to the Lord Jesus.
He already knows what happened.
He knows the thoughts you never told anyone.
He knows the tears you cried privately.
He knows the questions you still carry.
Therefore, allow Him to restore what has been damaged.
Healing may take time.
Nevertheless, you do not have to walk through that process alone.
Be Careful What You Say
Jesus taught that what comes out of the mouth reveals what is happening within.
Matthew 12:34 says:
“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” — Matthew 12:34, KJV
That statement should make us stop and think.
Our words can reveal our inner condition.
If bitterness constantly comes out of our mouths, we should examine what is happening inside.
If criticism dominates our conversations, we should examine our hearts.
If encouragement flows from us, that can also reveal something about what we are allowing to fill us.
Therefore, pay attention to your words.
Your words can become a mirror.
A Simple Daily Routine for Guarding Your Heart
Here is a practical routine you can begin today.
1. Start With Prayer
Before you begin your day, talk to the Lord Jesus.
Ask Him to guide your thoughts, words, and decisions.
2. Read Scripture
Choose a passage of Scripture and read it slowly.
Do not rush.
Ask yourself what the passage is teaching you.
3. Reflect
Take a few moments to think about what you have read.
Ask how you can apply it to your life.
4. Watch Your Thoughts
Throughout the day, notice what occupies your mind.
When an unhealthy thought appears, do not automatically accept it.
Bring it before the Lord Jesus.
5. Watch Your Words
Before speaking, ask:
“Will these words help, heal, encourage, or honor the Lord Jesus?”
6. End With Gratitude
Before going to bed, identify at least three things for which you are thankful.
Gratitude can help redirect our attention from what is missing to what the Lord Jesus has already provided.
What’s Inside of You Today?
Now return to the question:
What’s inside of you?
Perhaps you discovered that your heart needs more prayer.
Perhaps your mind needs more Scripture.
Perhaps you need to release an old hurt.
Perhaps you need to forgive.
Perhaps you need to stop allowing someone else’s opinion to control your identity.
Perhaps you simply need to slow down and spend more time with the Lord Jesus.
Whatever He is showing you, do not ignore it.
Instead, surrender it to Him.
Remember, the goal is not to become perfect overnight.
The goal is to allow the Lord Jesus Christ to continue transforming you.
As you seek Him, He can change the way you think.
As your thinking changes, your words can change.
As your words change, your actions can change.
And as your actions change, the direction of your life can change.
Interactive Quiz: What’s Inside Your Heart?
Question: According to Proverbs 4:23, why should we guard our hearts?
A. Because the heart has no effect on our lives.
B. Because the issues of life flow from it.
C. Because everyone else controls our hearts.
D. Because our feelings are always wrong.
Correct Answer: B — “For out of it are the issues of life.”
Now ask yourself:
What is one thing you need to change about what you are allowing into your heart and mind?
Quick Poll
What helps you stay focused on the Lord Jesus most during your day?
☐ Prayer
☐ Studying Scripture
☐ Worship
☐ Encouraging Christian relationships
☐ Time alone with the Lord Jesus
☐ Other — share your answer in the comments
Join the conversation: Tell us what helps you guard your heart.
A Challenge for This Week
For the next seven days, intentionally guard your heart.
Before you react, pause.
Before you speak, think.
Before you make an important decision, pray.
Before you allow fear to take over, remember the promises of Scripture.
Before you go to sleep, thank the Lord Jesus.
Then, at the end of the week, ask yourself:
“Has what I allowed into my heart changed the way I think, speak, and live?”
You may be surprised by what you discover.
Final Thought
Your inner life matters.
What you allow into your heart and mind can influence what eventually comes out of you.
Therefore, guard your heart.
Renew your mind.
Spend time in Scripture.
Pray consistently.
Listen to the Holy Spirit.
And most importantly, give your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Do not simply fit Him into your life.
Build your life around Him.
Because when the Lord Jesus becomes the center of your life, what flows from you can become a source of encouragement, faith, love, hope, and spiritual strength to the people around you.
Guard your heart. Fill your mind with truth. Give your life to the Lord Jesus. And let what is inside of you become a blessing to others.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more inspiring biblical encouragement and faith-filled content:
Possibility Plus:
https://www.youtube.com/@PossibilityPluspm
Support our ministry and help us continue sharing hope, truth, and the message of the lord Jesus Christ:
https://printify.com/app/store/products/1
Get your copy of Deceived No More: Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing by Paul Edwards:
https://www.amazon.com/Deceived-No-More-Wolves-Clothing/dp/B0FVFFVYYB
Keep walking. Keep trusting. Keep in step with the Spirit.