Follow Your Heart
My dear brothers and sisters, as I sit here to write this article, the word heart comes to mind. Not the heart of God, but the heart of man…my own heart. As I continue, I hope you can relate or understand these thoughts I pen for you.
In Hebrew, heart means mind, conscience, center, middle. It’s pretty much determined as our “inner person.” It’s where we feel our feelings and think our thoughts.
We’ve all heard the phrase “follow your heart.” If your heart is following God’s desires and will for your life, you’re on target! Psalm 37:4 (NLT) says, Take delight in the LORD and He will give you your heart’s desire. James 1:17 (NLT) says, whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God, our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. So we should know and trust that what God has for us is so much better than what we could imagine for ourselves. This reminds me of one of my favorite scriptures in Proverbs 3 verses 5 and 6. You will probably hear me refer to this one quite often.
On the opposite spectrum, I would like to share this scripture with you. It’s about our own desires and where it could lead us. James 1:14-15 (NLT) says, Temptations come from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow it leads to death. In verse 21 James tells us, “So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.”
My brothers and sisters, I don’t share these things with you to scare you. I share these things with you because it’s the love of Jesus coming through me and He wants and NEEDS you to know these things.
This is why it is so important for us to be in the word! And not just in the word, but applying it to our lives, letting God transform us from the inside out! Will we ever know everything? Not here, but maybe in heaven! There is still so much to learn and to know. I’m speaking for me too! Fortunately our God is a God of love and grace and mercy. He knows our hearts, even our very thoughts before we speak a word! Psalm 32:8 tells us, I will instruct and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
Let me share this scripture with you before I get too far. 2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT), All scripture is inspired by God and useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work. The NKJV puts it this way, All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
There may be times where we mess up. But if our heart is set on the will of God, He will recognize that and bring us back on course.
Another scripture I want to share with you, I came across this morning, perhaps for this moment.
Proverbs 19:20,21Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it’s the LORD’s purpose that will prevail.”
In this journey we will gain wisdom and we will learn to hear God’s voice. What a beautiful gain! Thank you Jesus!
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