In the ministry, what happens on the inside matters more than what people see on the outside. The preaching may be strong, the church may be growing, and the influence may be wide, but if the heart is not clean, the ministry is in danger. Bishop Dag Heward-Mills has understood this truth from the beginning of his calling, and he has guarded his heart carefully through every season of life and ministry.
He teaches that the heart is the seat of all spiritual life. It is where motives live. It is where offenses grow. It is where pride hides. And it is where God looks when He measures a man. If your heart is clean, your ministry will be clean. But if your heart is bitter, jealous, proud, or rebellious, it will eventually pollute everything you do.
Bishop Dag has taught for years that the real warfare in ministry is not just in the spirit realm—it’s in the heart. Can you forgive when you are betrayed? Can you love those who hurt you? Can you stay humble when you are praised? These are the tests that every servant of God must pass, and he has modeled that journey with sincerity.
Guarding Against Offense and Bitterness
Offense is one of the easiest traps in ministry. People will misunderstand you. They will leave. They will criticize. They will say things that are not true. And if you are not careful, those wounds will become roots of bitterness that defile your soul.
Bishop Dag teaches that offenses are inevitable—but how you respond to them is a choice. He shares from his own life that there were moments when the pain of betrayal could have made him hard and suspicious, but he chose forgiveness. He chose to release people, to bless them, and to keep his heart soft.
He teaches that a wounded shepherd will hurt the sheep. A bitter leader will produce bitter followers. That’s why it is not a luxury to have a clean heart—it is a necessity. It is what protects the anointing and preserves the call.
Through prayer, fasting, and deep reflection on God’s Word, Bishop Dag constantly brings his heart before the Lord. He asks to be searched. He seeks to be corrected. And he remains teachable, even after decades of ministry.
Staying Humble Through Success
One of the biggest tests of the heart is success. It is easy to be humble when you are small. But when you are followed, applauded, and celebrated, it takes grace to remember that you are only a servant. Bishop Dag has walked in the favor of God, but he has never let it lead him to pride.
He continues to fast, to pray, and to serve like a man just beginning the journey. He does not act as though he has arrived. He surrounds himself with counsel, stays accountable, and refuses to let fame cloud his vision.
He teaches that a clean heart is not only about resisting sin—it’s about remaining small in your own eyes. It’s about remembering that everything you have was given to you, and that you are nothing without the grace of God.
A Clean Heart That Glorifies God
At the end of the day, the goal of a clean heart is not personal peace—it is that God may be glorified. Bishop Dag wants his life and ministry to point people to Jesus, not to himself. That is why he keeps his heart pure. That is why he repents quickly, forgives easily, and loves deeply.
He teaches that ministry is holy. The pulpit is not a stage. The church is not a platform. It is a sacred trust. And if God has trusted you with His people, the least you can do is keep your heart clean.
Through his life and leadership, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills reminds us all that in ministry, the greatest fight is not against demons—but against a dirty heart. And the greatest victory is not crowds, but a conscience that is clear before God.