There’s a rather popular phrase floating around, even in Christian circles that says, “Follow your heart.” Now, I know this sounds well enough and folks have the best of intentions when they say it, but it just isn’t biblical. God says in His word that the heart is deceitful. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? ‘I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.’” Jeremiah 17: 9-10
“That’s Old Testament though. I am a new creation in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)” Yes, true, if you believed on Yeshua you are a new creation and your heart is no longer wicked as in Genesis 6:5 “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” But how well are you guarding your heart from the ways of the world? “Keep (guard) your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23 NKJV
There’s a reason God tells us to guard out hearts, not follow them. There is such a vast difference between guarding your heart and following it that disciples of Yeshua should immediately refrain from the use of this popular, yet dangerous, phrase. “Dangerous? How can a warm phrase of encouragement be dangerous?” I’ll tell you why. It leads Christians away from the truth of the Word and of the ways of God. Following your heart is a kin to following your feelings. Following what you feel is right for you. In fact, this phrase is often accompanied by, “Do what is right for you.” No, we ought to do what is right. Period.
It’s this type of rationalization that leads Christians into fornication, adultery, homosexual relationships, the abortion clinic. “Well, God understands, He knows my heart,” one might tell themselves. Yes, He does know your heart, and that ought cause every one of us to guard our hearts with all diligence so that when God looks on it, He sees a pure heart. “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:21 ESV
The heart is easily swayed in the direction of what it is being fed. What you put in your mind has only two places to go: discarded or in to the inner man of the heart. Discarding thoughts not in line with God’s word is easy if you are stayed on God’s Word continually. It’s like picking a piece of trash off the floor and tossing it into the garbage can. But, have you ever watched shows about hoarders? It’s not so easy to clean up that type of garbage dump. If you are filling your mind with Facebook, news, Football, Netflix, Gossip, romance novels and the like, discarding that heap is not an easy task. It will find its way to your heart. Once it get’s down in there, it sets up residence and becomes who you are. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7 KJV
We are to keep, or guard, our hearts, not follow them. Lead your heart by the spirit of God that dwell’s in you. Guard your heart by filling your mind with His Word.
“Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” 1 Timothy 4: 15-16
In His Service,
Rebecca Hamilton, Founder/ Executive Director
For Every Great Battle, There is a Great Victory!!