How often do we hear someone use that phrase, “Trust your heart”? Lots. When someone isn’t sure what to do, some good intentioned friend says to them, “Well, just trust your heart.” Except, that isn’t such good advice.
But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit.
The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I know! I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve. (Jeremiah 17:7-10)
My human heart wants what it wants, and often what it wants isn’t what the Lord wants for me. I have to bring myself back again and again to listening to His voice. Too often I’m guilty of doing what my heart wants and then afterward checking to see what the Lord thought of it. This is particularly true in my spending habits. I fall victim to the “wants” in life. Technology is a real weakness for me. I love it. Hey, it keeps my mind active which is supposed to keep my brain working well into old age. Right? (Oh, man. Can I justify or what!?)
My goal is to get to the place where I remember to pray about the tiniest things and/or the mundane things in my life first. Lord, I think I need a new water heater. Please guide me. Amen. No, that isn’t exciting, but it should still be prayed about. I don’t want to be deceived by my willful human heart. I want to know my Lord’s heart for me and follow it.
For those of you doing the 90 Day Bible challenge, tomorrow (Saturday) we will complete our 8th week. Can you believe it? In 13 days, we will be in the New Testament. Wow! This is going by fast. I am so thankful for this experience.
And finally, for anyone wondering, I wasn’t surprised by the gals or guys who left in last night’s American Idol results show. Things won’t get really tough, IMHO, for another couple of weeks.
-rlh-
I think that you may have confused trusting our heart with trusting our brainy flesh.
The Jeremiah 17 scripture you quote is a description of the unregenerated heart. The regenerated heart is described in Ezek 36:26-27 like this: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
Many sincere believing people (myself included) have lived many years out of their head and not their heart because they trust their head but do not trust their hearts. This is problematic because faith is of the heart.
Robin — Thanks for this. I know what you mean about having to rein myself in to be guided and not running ahead, and I’m still working on it. It is so amazing when you see Him at work with things like water heaters and the like. Feeling loved in those practical, everyday things, it’s a breathtaking experience. I know you know this feeling. The WOW of it.
I’ve fallen behind on my 90 Days reading, and I’m getting back on track. Figure reading the Bible in 100 Days is still pretty good, right? Great to hear that you are entering the NT. Good for you!
Now, as for American Idol — I agree with you, I wasn’t surprised either. This should be an interesting year.
You’re right, Robin. It comes naturally to be guided by our own desires and motivations. But “trust in the Lord with all your heart” . . . that’s where I want to be. My heart aligned with God’s.