Guarding What Comes From Your Heart Matters More Than What Goes In
- Frank Wible
- Aug 31
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 2
Aaron had always been careful about appearances. He dressed well, spoke politely, and avoided things that would make him look bad in front of others. People at work often called him “a good guy.” But deep inside, he wrestled with anger and jealousy that no one else could see.
When his co-workers were promoted, he congratulated them with a smile, but resentment burned in his heart. When someone wronged him, he pretended to brush it off, yet bitterness grew silently within. Outwardly, he looked righteous, but inwardly he knew he was rotting.
One Sunday his pastor read Mark 7:15: “It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.” Aaron froze. The words exposed him. He realized that his problem was not how he appeared, but what was flowing from his heart.
That night, Aaron could not sleep. He lay awake, thinking about the sarcasm that slipped into his words, the envy that fueled his actions, and the pride that shaped his decisions. It was not food or drink that was defiling him, it was the poison in his own heart.
The next morning, he knelt beside his bed and prayed honestly, “Lord, my heart is not right. Change me from the inside out. I do not want to just look good. I want to be good in Your eyes.”
From that day on, Aaron began asking God to search his heart daily. Whenever bitterness rose, he confessed it. When envy whispered, he rebuked it. Slowly, the grip of those hidden sins loosened.
Over time, people noticed a change. His words grew softer, his patience stronger. One co-worker remarked, “You seem different—like you’re lighter.” Aaron smiled, knowing it was not because he tried harder on the outside, but because God was cleansing him within.
He learned that guarding what comes from your heart is a daily battle. The world says image is everything, but God says the heart is everything. Out of it flow our words, actions, and choices.
One evening at his men’s group, Aaron shared his journey. Many admitted they too carried secret anger, lust, or bitterness while maintaining a polished appearance. His honesty encouraged them to bring their struggles into the light.
Aaron reminded them, “Jesus did not die to make us look holy. He died to make us holy from the inside out.”
As months turned into years, Aaron saw more freedom in his life. The anger that once consumed him no longer controlled him. The envy that once poisoned him gave way to gratitude.
His relationships grew stronger because people could sense his authenticity. He no longer lived to maintain a mask, he lived to let God transform his heart.
He often repeated Mark 7:15 to younger men, saying, “Do not waste your energy just fixing the outside. Let God fix the inside. Because what comes from your heart determines the man you really are.”
Aaron’s story is a reminder that real transformation is not about appearances but about surrender. The world measures what it sees, but God looks at what comes from your heart.
What do you struggle with most in your heart?
Anger or bitterness
Envy or jealousy
Lust or temptation
Pride or selfishness
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