Guarding Your Heart in Ministry Relationships

You’re out here serving the Lord, and suddenly you catch the eye of a brother in Christ. But is he looking at your heart or your platform? When I was single, my mother used to always remind me “the anointing is attractive.” Ministry attracts attention, and sometimes, that attention isn’t always from people who genuinely want to grow with you in Christ. It’s easy to get caught up in the flattery and miss the red flags.

This is where you’ve got to be discerning. Guarding your heart doesn’t mean you build walls around it, but it does mean you’re cautious about who you let in. Not everyone who comes into your life is sent by God, and not every relationship is meant to be romantic. Some are meant to challenge you, teach you, or even push you closer to God—without a ring attached.

Take some time to study the story of Samson and Delilah (Judges 16). Reflect on how someone’s motives in your life can be more about what they can gain from you than how they can grow with you. Pray for discernment in your relationships, and journal about any situations where you need to step back and reassess the motives behind someone’s interest in you.