Scripture refers to the heart in a number of ways, but it seems primarily to be the center of a person, a place which controls all other aspects of life. In this sense, the heart is the center of our relationship with God. If that goes, everything goes. We must make sure we guard out hearts by guarding our relationship with God. Scripture and prayer and finding time to be with God are vital to our whole lives.

The first order of business in life is to know God.

Here are some tips to help you know God and guard your heart.

First, set aside intentional time to be with God. Like all other relationships, a relationship with God demands time that we spend with Him.

My practice is to set apart the first hour of the day to spend with God through prayer, meditation, and Scripture. I find that the time I spend with God is the best time of the day and the most productive. If I spend time with God, I am equipped to deal with whatever comes my way.

I thank God for the time I get to spend in His presence early in the morning.

Second, ask God to reveal Himself to you. God wants to know you and He wants you to know Him, but He doesn’t force Himself on us. James said that we need to draw near to God. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). You will be blessed as you seek God.

Third, spend significant time in Scripture and in prayer. You can’t dispute the importance of time spent with God in prayer and through Scripture. “Inner strength and spiritual fortitude are the result of quiet reflection on God’s word and being steeped in prayer. There simply is no formula that replaces that truth.”

As we seek God and rely on His truth, we will be blessed in our daily strength. God has supplied all our needs. We simply need to lean on Him.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3).