Heart, and Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit comes to dwell within believers, renewing them and directing their hearts towards a greater love for God.

The renewal of the heart by the Holy Spirit

Psalm 51:10; Ezekiel 36:26 See also Psalm 51:12–17; Isaiah 57:15; Jeremiah 24:7; Ezekiel 18:31

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

The heart as the residence of the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:9 See also John 7:37–39; Romans 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 3:16–17; Colossians 1:27

You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

The heart bears the fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22–23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Love for God

Mark 12:30 parallels Matthew 22:37, Luke 10:27 See also Exodus 25:2; Deuteronomy 6:5, Deuteronomy 11:13, Deuteronomy 30:6; 1 Kings 15:14

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Faithfulness to God

Psalm 44:18 See also 1 Kings 2:4; 1 Chronicles 29:18; Nehemiah 9:8; Acts 11:23

Our hearts have not turned back; our steps have not strayed from Your path.

Other results of the Holy Spirit's indwelling of the heart

Heartfelt worship of God

Colossians 3:16 See also 1 Samuel 2:1; 2 Chronicles 11:16, 2 Chronicles 29:31; Job 11:13; Psalm 9:1, Psalm 33:21, Psalm 86:12, Psalm 138:1; Romans 15:6; Ephesians 5:18–19; Philippians 3:3

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Heartfelt prayer to God

Psalm 119:145 See also Genesis 24:45; 1 Samuel 1:13; 1 Chronicles 22:19; Psalm 21:2, Psalm 27:8, Psalm 63:1, Psalm 84:2; Romans 8:26–27

I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD! I will obey Your statutes.

Wholehearted obedience to God

Psalm 119:34 See also Deuteronomy 26:16, Deuteronomy 30:14–17, Deuteronomy 32:46; 1 Kings 14:8; 2 Kings 23:3, 2 Kings 23:25; Nehemiah 2:12; Psalm 40:8, Psalm 119:2, Psalm 119:69, Psalm 119:112; Romans 6:17

Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.

Wholehearted trust in God

Proverbs 3:5–6 See also Psalm 62:8; Mark 11:23; Luke 24:25; Hebrews 10:22

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Wholehearted service for God

Romans 1:9 See also Deuteronomy 10:12; Joshua 22:5; 1 Samuel 12:20, 1 Samuel 12:24

God, whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you