follow your heart?
“Follow your heart” is a popular phrase seen everywhere from canvas prints to pajama pants. I had some pajama pants I bought that had this phrase on them. I realized this tiny print after I bought them and tried to hang on, but I threw them away because I do not believe it! LOL During seminary I must admit to watching The Bachelor after studying for exams or writing papers and “go with your gut” is a much-used phrase on that show as well as on many tv shows today. Sounds idyllic, right? Sounds flowery and dreamy, but is it correct thinking?
To follow the Lord and live His best for us, we must interpret life through His Words in the Bible. What does God have to say about the heart? “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Not to suck the fun out of life but to live in reality, it is important to know what God has to say, since He knows what is best for us! In the end, His way is always the best way. We as humans cannot possibly know what decisions to make and Proverbs 16:25 reminds us, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”
When it comes to relationships, the Bachelor has a lot to say about how to choose who to date and marry. It would be wise to ask our heavenly Father what He has to say. In reality, our heart and feelings change day to day. “You’ve lost that loving feeling” song is fairly accurate in a way. Love changes and grows from a young, flirty feeling to a mature, strong, sweet love. It is not that love fades, but that it changes. It is a blessing! To grow from one to the other shows strength and longevity. Love is more a choice than a feeling.
When people marry, it is a vow that they choose to love their partner as long as they live, not until feelings change…or until life gets tough…or until the mundane gets old. Besides, after a while, the next person would get old, then the next, then the next…you get what I’m saying.
God does say to “guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23). I think God’s guidance is telling us that guarding our hearts is more worthwhile than following them. Why follow a fluctuating heart when we can follow the very One Who created it? How great is that? He is willing to guard us and guide us in His perfect best for us! The One Who knows us better than our own parents loves us enough to guide each area of our lives – big or small. Trying out for a team, auditioning for a part, applying for a job, considering who to date and marry, where to go to school… Thank You, God, for loving us this much! Help us to seek You first in all we do. Amen! Y’all have a great week!
Love,
Charis
