What does it mean to have an upright heart toward God?

In the biblical context, an upright heart is often associated with sincerity and honesty before God. When we approach Him, it indicates a genuine recognition of our need for mercy and grace. Proverbs 21:8 reminds us that the path of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright. This means that in acknowledging our sinful nature, we must come before God authentically, seeking His cleansing and redemption. An upright heart reflects our reliance entirely on Christ’s righteousness rather than our own, and it is a heart that has been transformed by grace.