The Heart
True confessions. I like reality tv shows. I watch The Bachelor – I turn off the raunchy scenes. But I find it so interesting that in this particular program, whether it is bachelor or bachelorette, a phrase is used over and over again…
I just have to follow my heart.
Really?
Now, the Bible has a lot to say about the heart – A LOT – and one of those things is NOT to follow it.
I have two grandkids; one is 24 (girl) and one is almost-18 (boy), I have never once told them to follow their heart. I have told them, at least 9,999 times to guard their heart.
Above everything else, guard your heart; for it is the source of life’s consequences. Proverbs 4.23 (CJB)
As my granddaughter would say, “Oof…”
Serious stuff. Are our choices made due to the dictates of our heart or our wisdom, based on God’s truth?
Let’s see what the B I B L E has to say!
Where shall I begin? With my friend Kitty’s life verse:
Trust in the Lord, with all your heart. Lean not to your own understanding but acknowledge HIM in all your ways and HE will direct your steps. Proverbs 3.5-6
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6.21
Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37.4
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart. Psalm 26.2
These are great scriptures, aren’t they? Heart here sounds more like our body|soul|spirit being. When we trust the Lord and delight in Him with our whole body, soul, spirit … He will direct our steps, He will give us our desires, we will invest in His Kingdom, and He will test us.
Sounds healthy and good, right? Yes, and it is.
The Clincher
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked [incurable sick]; who can know it? 10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind [secret parts], even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. Jeremiah 17.9-10
Ouch. Listen, y’all, I am saved, Spirit-filled, and sanctified but those consequences of way-back-then choices? They are rotten fruit of my own doing. Hear me?
The Remedy
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36.26
This is the prayer we must pray with a clean, pure, contrite, humble heart [spirit]…
Father God, in Jesus’ Name, give me a new heart and a new spirit – ones that honor You and desire You more than anything else. Take this heart of cold, hard stone and give me a new heart of compassion, kindness, and humble flesh. This O Lord, is my true desire to honor You in all things with my whole life. Amen.
How’s your heart?
The matters of our heart matters to The One who formed us and created us and designed every cell of us. My heart is pure. Now, ask yourself that question.
It is so interesting (and deceitfully simple) how phrases of advice and opinion can sound so meaningful, helpful and even right….but when tested against scripture, they are just more of the enemy’s traps! Just like following our deceitful hearts. A fool’s game, to be sure! Much wisdom here. Your grands are blessed to have you – and your wisdom!
Jennifer, music to my ears.
I pray that prayer often. As a caregiver to my mom and sister, I get tired and cranky all too often, but I don’t want them to ever feel my distress. Your post is a good reminder. Thanks.
Suzette, I hear you. May your heart be pure and your desires fulfilled!
A great reminder. Years ago when I was teaching a careers class in high school one of the steps in deciding which way to go was exactly that phrase “follow your heart.” So this post was so exact on scripture. Our hearts deceive us and yet many of us blindly follow the heart. However, once our heart is cleansed and in line with God’s word, we may even know that his desires are our desires. A great post. Thank you.
Exactly!
I love this. It is so true. I KNOW better and yet I often fall into the “follow your heart” and “he/she has a good heart” claptrap. Oof is right!
I hear ya, Shelby. How about, “I just want you to be happy.” Another trap.
Gonna read that often n remind myself! Great post! God is the only person we need. Cleanse my heart dear Lord.❤️
Yes, Lord!
Spot on as always!
Xo
Dang girl, I miss you!
I needed these words of Truth this morning, to be reminded that the heart is there for God’s purposes but not to be the standard for our behavior, our actions. His Truth is what I must set up on high.
Linda, we’re never too “mature” or “old” to be reminded of these timeless truths. Amen.
Studied the heart quite a lot in a “Spirit, Soul and Body” class ….. Your post is right on and much needed.
Truth is always needed, amen? Glad you arrived safely!!!
I have often reminded myself of how my own heart will deceive me. So important to constantly ask the Lord to examine my heart and what it would dictate. We need to hear these truths often, so thank you!
Thank you for the confirmation, Jo!
Yes and Amen to this, Susan! One of the biggest challenges in parenting our sons is reminding them not to live by emotions . . . which sway their hearts, but to live by God’s truths. When our focus is on God and not the feelings or urges we’re not going to be steered wrong.
Absolute truth, Jeanne. Parenting 101 in 2021? Not for the faint of heart.
Such a good word, Susan! We can’t follow our hearts because even we don’t realize how wicked our hearts actually are!
I want to pray like David did for a renewed heart and a right spirit.
So do I, Jerralea!!!
As always Susan, Spot on and an amazing lesson. Blessings.
Paula, you are so kind with your comments!!! The Word Works!!!
I do believe that God inspires us and helps us to discern what’s right and wrong . So follow your heart but examine it first! Great advice.
Thanks Corinne!