The Heart of the Matter: How to Manage the Most Important Part of You

What’s the most important thing about you?

Scripture has a clear answer: your heart.

It’s mentioned over 800 times in the Bible—and not once is it talking about the physical organ. In The Impossible Life Podcast Ep. 208 | The Heart of the Matter: Understanding the Spiritual Core That Shapes Your Life, Garrett and Nick dive deep into what the Bible actually means by “the heart,” why it’s central to your life with God, and how to manage it with wisdom, maturity, and spiritual discipline.

“Your heart isn’t a container for sin—it’s the place where your desire lives.” — Garrett

Whether you’re trying to make better decisions, grow in maturity, or discern God’s will, everything flows from the condition of your heart.

What Is the Heart? A Biblical Definition

The heart is the core of your being. It’s where your desires live. It’s the center of your motivations, affections, and direction. It’s where you make the most important decisions of your life—internally, before they ever become external.

Jesus said the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart…” (Matthew 22:37)
And God tells Israel, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

But the heart is complex.
It can desire what’s holy—or what’s evil.
It can pursue truth—or chase idols.

“The heart is deceitful above all things…” — Jeremiah 17:9
“Create in me a clean heart, O God…” — Psalm 51:10

It’s not a fixed thing—it’s a battleground.

That’s why managing your heart is a spiritual discipline. You can’t afford to be passive. You must be intentional, discerning, and surrendered.

How the Heart Works: The Follower Within

Here’s a truth most people miss:

Your heart follows.
It doesn’t lead—it responds.

• It follows what you love

• It follows what you worship

• It follows where you place your hope

Garrett compared the heart to a toddler: it’s full of passion, hunger, and energy—but it needs leadership. Left alone, it will chase what feels good, not what’s true.

“Your heart wants to be led—but if you don’t lead it, it will follow whatever calls loudest.” — Nick

This is why Jesus didn’t say, “Follow your heart.”
He said, “Deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Me.”

Your job is to lead your heart toward the things of God.

How to Manage Your Heart: The 3-Step Cycle

Garrett and Nick laid out a practical, powerful model for stewarding your heart daily. It’s not a one-time fix—it’s a repeatable cycle of alignment and maturity.

1. Repentance: Clean the Slate

Start by bringing your heart before God.
Ask, “Lord, show me what doesn’t belong.”

“Repentance is the heart’s reset button. It’s where clarity begins.” — Garrett

You can’t manage what’s cluttered. Repentance clears the noise so you can hear truth.

2. Understanding: Discern What’s Really There

Next, seek understanding. Ask,

• “Is this desire from God?”

• “Is this a wound, a lie, or a divine assignment?”

This is where wisdom and maturity develop.
It’s not just about what you feel—it’s about understanding what’s beneath the surface.

Proverbs 4:7 says, “In all your getting, get understanding.”
God wants you to know your heart—not just monitor it.

3. Action: Align Your Steps with What God Reveals

Once you’ve repented and understood, you act.
That might mean taking a step of faith, setting a boundary, or embracing a new rhythm.

Whatever it is—you don’t just sit with your heart… you lead it.

“The most mature believers don’t follow their heart—they train it.” — Nick

And then? You repeat the cycle. Because new seasons bring new desires, new battles, and new opportunities to align with God.

Final Thoughts: The Heart God Can Use

At the end of the day, your heart isn’t just a container—it’s a compass.

It will either point you toward God’s purpose… or drift toward destruction.

That’s why Proverbs 4:23 says:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

So here’s the challenge:

• Don’t ignore your heart

• Don’t idolize it

• Lead it.

Bring it to God. Let Him search it, heal it, and use it.

Because the most dangerous man is not the one with a big brain or a big voice—it’s the man with a heart that’s surrendered, pure, and aligned with the will of God.

“God wants your heart. Not your performance. Not your image. Your heart.” — The Impossible Life