thanks to Sarah for writing this week’s beautiful thoughts.
I read something on Facebook recently about following your heart, and the phrase that immediately came to mind was: “The heart is deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9). We can follow our hearts, but we need to know that a lot of the time, they’ll lead us astray. In Matthew 15:17-20, as He explains that foods are no longer ‘Clean’ and ‘Unclean’, Jesus says: “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts – murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person”. First, we need to pay attention to what’s in our hearts. Are we tempted to steal from someone – to grasp what should have been theirs? To squash a dream? Perhaps to lie about them or ourselves? “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23).
So how can we follow our hearts with confidence? Once we’ve seen what’s in our hearts, it’s up to us to steer them in the right direction. The Psalmist explained how he did this. “I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). It was giving God access to his heart – making sure his thinking aligned with the truths in God’s Word. Later, Paul says: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15). I haven’t perfected this. I lose the battle when I’m walking and there’s a dog at my heels, frenziedly barking in his excitement. I must learn to let peace (not fear) rule in those moments.
There’s a song by Hillsong Worship called “Hosanna”. Honestly, I could take it or leave it, except for this one amazing line: “Break my heart for what breaks Yours”. It’s when we’re that attuned to God, when our hearts are so connected to what’s in His heart, that we truly make an impact in this world. When we’ve examined our hearts and inclined them towards God, that’s when it’s safe for us to follow where He leads.
to find out more about Sarah, her writing and her music, you can either visit
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