"Follow your heart." This saying is so familiar. You find it in books, people tell you to do it, and it is sung in songs. But is it really good advice?
God's word says that the "heart is deceitful above all things." hmm... it doesn't sound as though I can trust my heart.
So what is our "heart?" The heart is considered the center of emotions. (You've heard of loving someone with "all your heart.") The problem with emotions is that they can't be trusted. Emotions can shift with the weather - really!! Have you ever felt a little down, and later realize that a major storm is coming? Emotions can also shift according to how we feel physically or mentally. If you are tired, you are less likely to feel happy. Sounds like a lot of ups and downs, huh?
If the emotions are always changing, the heart cannot be trusted. If the heart is allowed to guide you through life, there will be a lot of frustrations, disappointments, and wrong choices.
On the other hand, we can allow God's word to guide our hearts. We can chose to set our hearts in God's will. Deut. 11:16 warns us to take care that our heart isn't deceived. If we hide God's word in our hearts, we can live a life free of sin. ( Psalm 119:11 ) The important thing is choosing to guide the heart, not be guided by the whims of emotions.
It is important not to make choices in life based purely on emotions. "If it feels good, do it." is an old mantra, but not a reliable one. Something may feel "good" at that moment, but have serious negative effects for the rest of a person's life.
Pharoah chose to set his heart against God's way ( Exodus 9:34 )and suffered the consequences. On the other hand, Ezra prepared his heart to seek God's law ( Ezra 7:10 ) and became a great leader of God's people. What will you chose for your heart?
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