Jeremiah 16:1-18:23
Jeremiah 35:1-19
Jeremiah 17:5-10, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord … But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream … The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart and examine the mind…’”
“Listen to your heart…”
“My heart’s just not in this anymore…”
“My head and my heart are telling me different things…”
Do any of these thoughts ever cross your mind? The world tells us to throw caution to the wind and follow our hearts above all else. Ultimately, the heart is good, right? We constantly see this idea of intrinsic goodness reinforced in movies, books, and quotes on social media — but it’s not true! It directly opposes the truth that we are all sinners in need of a Savior.
In and of ourselves, we are not good, and our hearts are not pure. Think of the anger that can swell up over something small. Consider how easy it is to tell a lie to cover our mistakes. We may be able to fake it in front of others for a while, but God sees the condition of our hearts 24/7!
Here’s the good news! Through Christ, we are born again — we can have a new life in Him. As believers, we have the power and responsibility to follow after God above all else. So, as long as you face temptations on earth, be wise, NOT merely following your heart which leads to folly. Instead, seek God and discover His goodness and power that will lead you to discover what living “the good life” is truly all about!
Lord, search my heart and examine my thoughts. Is there deceit in me? Impure motives? Convict me of any sin. Give me the courage to own up to it, confess it and then turn fully from it. I choose to follow after You! Amen