When the Bible talks about our heart, it is referring to our minds. This heart or mind, is the center of our thoughts and emotions. It is our character.

What is God’s concern with my heart? The answer is in 1 Samuel 16:7, NIV. "But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

When I sin, my heart needs to be cleansed. You’ll find out who cleans it in Psalm 51:10, NIV. "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." When our hearts are cleansed, we are forgiven!

When God is in charge, our hearts will be at peace. Look in 1 John 3:19-20, NIV. "This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is
greater than our hearts, and He knows everything."

Our commitment to God should be wholehearted. It’s in the Bible, Romans 6:17, TLB. "Thank God that though you once chose to be slaves of sin, now you have obeyed with all your heart the teaching to which God has committed you."

Psalm 24:3-4 (NIV)

(3) Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?
(4) He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.

Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 40:8 (NIV)

I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."

Ps 51:17 (NIV)

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Matt 5:8 (NIV)

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Matt 22:37-40 (NIV)

(37) Jesus replied: “'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'”
(38) This is the first and greatest commandment.
(39) And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
(40) All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Rom 10:8-9 (NIV)

(8) But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:
(9) That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.