Guard Your Heart: Faithful in Thought, Not Just Action
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Guard your heart — I used to think that phrase was something somebody paints on a farmhouse sign so it sounds spiritual without actually asking anything of you. Turns out Jesus meant it a lot more literally than a sign at Hobby Lobby, y’all.
We’re still working our way through the Sermon on the Mount over here, and this week we’re on Matthew 5:27-28, where Jesus takes a commandment nobody in the room was worried about — don’t commit adultery — and quietly moves the goalposts to somewhere a lot closer to home. He says looking at somebody with lust is already adultery in the heart. Not “will be.” Already is.
What Does It Mean to Guard Your Heart?
Here’s the short version: the sin was never really about the bed. That was just where it eventually showed up, if it got the chance to. The actual thing started way back in a look — a thought you let stay parked a little too long.
That’s not a new idea, either. Job said it first, way back in one of the oldest books in the Bible: “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust” (Job 31:1). Jesus wasn’t inventing a rule. He was just finally saying out loud what everybody already knew and nobody wanted to talk about.
And before you brace for a guilt trip — that’s not what this is. This isn’t about a report card. It’s about being honest with yourself about what you’re letting shape you when nobody’s watching.
Building Real Guardrails, Not Just Willpower
I love the word guardrail for this, because a guardrail on the highway isn’t there to ruin your drive. It’s there so you can stay on the road without ever getting close enough to the edge to find out what happens.
Your mind needs the same thing, and “try harder” was never a guardrail — it’s just a wish. A real guardrail is specific. It’s naming the actual thing that pulls at you and deciding, ahead of time, what you’re going to do about it, instead of hoping willpower shows up right when you need it most.
That’s exactly what I built the free printable for this week. It walks you through naming what’s actually pulling your attention off the road and putting an honest, specific guardrail in place for each one. You can grab it over on the ko-fi page — free and no strings, just something to actually work through instead of just nodding along to a podcast.
Listen to Guard your heart podcast
This post barely scratches the surface — we cover a lot more ground in the actual episode, including what Jesus meant by “gouge it out and throw it away” (it’s not what you think), and the difference between conviction and shame. Press play below and let’s talk about it like we’re sitting on the porch.
Pin It for Later
Hey, if you liked this one, make sure to check out these:
- Meal Prepping for Busy Women: With a Crazy Busy Life
- Episode 24: Salt, Light, and Ordinary Faithfulness Living Faith Where Life Actually Happens
- Fall Craft Kits: 6 Fun Projects You Can Put Together at Home
About the Host
Hey sweet friend — I’m Ashley, the heart behind SimplyBlessedDesignz and the voice of Unscripted Conversations.
I’m a faith-filled creative who believes in Jesus, Dollar Tree flips, and showing up even when life gets messy. Whether I’m podcasting, crafting, or cooking something from scratch, my prayer is always the same: that you leave here encouraged and reminded you’re never alone.
Grab your coffee, pull up a chair, and let’s do this life—one grace-filled day at a time. 💛