"Trust your heart!"
It's an incredibly popular saying, but it isn't biblical.
Scripture says our hearts are deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9).
Human emotions and human logic are unreliable. That's why we need to renew our minds in God's Word so we can understand God's heart. With a mind renewed in Scripture, we can judge things wisely (Romans 12:1-2).
Are you dealing with a difficult relationship? Are you making a decision about your job, children, housing, or budget?
Whatever is going on in your life, don't trust your heart. Trust God's heart!
Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Jeremiah 9:23-24: "This is what the LORD says: 'Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the LORD."
Proverbs 9:10: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." (This truth is repeated in Proverbs 1:7 and Psalm 111:10.)
2 Timothy 2:15: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."
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I've recently been studying a particular form of "Christian" counseling because I personally know of Christian families damaged by some of the philosophies it contains. I think it would be good for you to read my review. It's helpful to examine teachings that contain half-truths so we can build discernment: Unsafe Christians.
I also encourage you to check out the Wisdom for Life Devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word.
Bible Love Notes
Thank you for this post. I cringe every time I hear someone say "Trust your heart." They are putting themselves & their reasoning power above their Creator. Satan celebrates in this deception of "petting human ego".
ReplyDeleteI think there is another aspect that needs to be considered regarding "trusting your heart". The Bible tells us that God's word is written on our hearts; Romans 2:15, Hebrews 10:16, Jeremiah 31:33. Galatians 5:16-17 tells us that we have desires from the flesh and desires from the Spirit that are waging war within us. Our hearts have godly and ungodly desires and we need to filter these desires through God's word. Hebrews 4:12 says God's word discerns the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. When we filter where our hearts are leading us through God's word we can follow our hearts. Also, Proverbs 37:4 indicates that the desires of our hearts aren't all bad. When we delight ourselves in the Lord, he will give us the desires of our hearts. The Lord isn't going to give us the desires of our hearts if it is something that is bad. I know that when I am considering what to do or what to say, I think of scripture and pray and then I oftentimes feel in my heart what God is leading me to do or say. The important thing is to filter our heart's desires through God's word.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all that you've written.
DeleteHowever, when people say "Trust your heart" or "Follow your heart" I don't think their intent is to follow God's Word. And, as you admit, even the Christian must determine if their thoughts/desires are motivated by Scripture or selfishness.