Follow your heart: I’m sure you heard that one before- many times. When talking about our heart in this context, we usually mean our emotions, but scripturally speaking it also includes our intellect and will. The world tells us to follow our hearts, but what does the Bible say?
(NKJV unless otherwise stated. I used bold text for emphasis.)Gen. 6:5- Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Jer. 17:9- The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
Matt. 15:19- For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. (Jesus said this)
So, are we to follow after a part of us that is only evil continually, deceitful, wicked, and full of sin? I don’t think that was God’s intention. Perhaps that is why David cried in Ps. 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Well, what do we follow if it is not our heart?
Let’s see what the scripture says:
Let’s see what the scripture says:
Matt. 16:24- Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Ps. 119:112- I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, to the very end.
Heb. 4:12- For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Num. 15:39- …remember all the commandments of the LORD, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes,… NASB
In other words, we are to follow the Lord Jesus and His Word in making decisions. That means our decisions will not be based on fleshly pleasures, but that which is right and true in the eyes of God. Pr. 28:26 says that a person who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered and since the Lord gives wisdom (Pr. 2:6) than that should be our source of direction. Do you want to be wise? I do.
Allow these scriptures to remind us why we should follow the Lord and His word:
Ecclesiastes 11:9, “…Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.”
2 Cor. 5:10- For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (Rom. )
1 Cor 4:5- …the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts.
Will you follow your heart, or follow God?
I choose God.