🎬Cliché Month: (don’t) Follow Your Heart 💓
Follow Your Heart?
Have you ever followed your heart only to have it lead you someplace you didn’t expect to go? Maybe you thought you were following true love. Maybe a religious experience turned out to be a little too much like a cult instead of being Bible based. Maybe you were totally certain you were supposed to go to a certain school, job, or address and all the promises fell flat.
Few platitudes are as universally celebrated as “follow your heart.” You’ll find it in graduation cards, you’ll hear animated heroines speak it as a mantra, and Hollywood pushes it as the way to fulfill your dreams. On the surface, it sounds empowering. But beneath the romanticism, there’s an uncomfortable truth: our hearts (emotions) are fickle, easily swayed, and often terrible navigators. Even God’s Word says our hearts are so deceitful that we can’t even know them ourselves.
Jeremiah 17:9 WEBUS
[9] The heart is deceitful above all things and it is exceedingly corrupt. Who can know it?
https://bible.com/bible/206/jer.17.9.WEBUS
Danger and Deceit
This is the danger of following your heart. Even though we’re told things like, “The heart knows what it wants,” or “Listen to your heart,” those efforts often lead us to a broken heart or into hopeless depression. And why? Because they mix up emotional desires with being led through this life by our loving Creator. Only the Spirit of The One who made us can lead to the places He planned and designed for us. Every other direction is hit and miss. Maybe it will lead to someplace great; maybe not. John Bevere speaks on this in his message: “Breaking Intimidation.” He says things of the soul can imitate things of The Spirit.
The affiliate link above is for the book at Amazon, and I’m not certain if that portion is in the book or only on CD, so I asked Microsoft Copilot for a summary of that portion of the message. Here’s that summary…
John Bevere warns that the soul (mind/will/emotions) can imitate the Spirit, creating impulses that feel right, sound noble, and even look “spiritual,” yet still come from human desire rather than God. He uses John the Baptist as the example: everything about his priestly family line suggested a respectable ministry path, but the Spirit led him into the wilderness instead—camel hair, locusts, and a calling no one expected. Bevere’s point is simple and sharp: following your heart is often just following your soul, and the soul, no matter how sincere, “cannot receive the things of the Spirit.” True direction comes from the Spirit, even when it contradicts what seems good.
1 Corinthians 2:14 BSB
[14] The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
https://bible.com/bible/3034/1co.2.14.BSB
The Romantic Rebellion
The belief that our inner feelings are the ultimate moral compass took root during the late 18th-century Romantic Era. Poets and philosophers, who reacted against the cold rationality of the Industrial Age, argued that personal passion and raw emotion were inherently pure. Over the 20th century, pop psychology and modern individualism cemented the idea that it was unhealthy to suppress our desires. They suggested that trusting immediate emotional impulses was the highest form of self-discovery.
An Ancient Warning
Long before modern cinema made the human heart into the hero of every story, ancient wisdom urged caution with yielding to wild emotions. In classical philosophy, Plato illustrated the human soul as a charioteer (Reason) struggling to manage two horses—one noble, and the other a wild, rebellious appetite that was “the mate of insolence and pride… hardly yielding to whip and spur.”
Scripture provides more anchors against letting blind, emotional trust lead us to places of destruction or depression:
Proverbs 4:23 BSB
[23] Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
https://bible.com/bible/3034/pro.4.23.BSB
Proverbs 3:5-6 BSB
[5] Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; [6] in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
https://bible.com/bible/3034/pro.3.5-6.BSB
Rather than letting unchecked desires drag us toward a fire, wisdom calls us to tether our hearts to truth, discernment, and sound guidance.
Leading Your Heart
In the 2008 film Fireproof, there is a pivotal conversation between Caleb and his friend (and boss) Michael that perfectly dismantles this platitude. When Caleb tells Michael he is “in” with The Lord and wants some faith advice, Michael gets very excited. He calls Caleb his brother (but you gotta hear how he says it 😁) and then gives great big-brother-type advice:
“And don’t just follow your heart, man, because your heart can be deceived; but you’ve got to lead your heart.”
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The Heart of The Matter
(CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
As we end “love” month, I’ve got to ask: Do you love maple syrup? I’ve eliminated most sugar from my diet, so I don’t get to enjoy my favorite maple nut goodies (candy) or French toast with lots of syrup, but I can still add maple flavor to a few things like oatmeal and sugar free pecan pralines. Sometimes, even banana (flourless) pancakes. But if you do like fresh maple tapped from trees, and if you are near or can get to Salem, Indiana on March 1st, 7th or 8th, go out to LM Sugarbush LLC and enjoy the free festival loaded with vendor booths, front porch music, old west shootouts by The Cowboy Posse, and, of course, maple syrup. Being winter, there are other syrup festivals around, so if you find one to attend, tell me about it in the comments.
So,this is it; the final day of February. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed coming up with 28+ different ways to present heart shapes along with a few heart inspired titles. And now, as we end the month, what do you think was the heart of the matter? I’m sure you’ve figured out that LOVE is the main theme behind every post, be it God’s love for us, our love for Him, or love in other forms.
Now, I want to end with this wonderful video by “The Bible Project” guys who break down the biblical word for love as used in ”the shema” from Deuteronomy 6:4. I recommend the entire 6 videos from that series, so here’s the one about love (as in to love The Lord)…
I love where these guys show how “heart” really meant EVERYTHING in Bible days and cultures. They mention how you know with your heart, understand with your heart, and have wisdom and discernment in your heart. Even the concept of a broken heart comes from ancient Hebrew understanding.
And tomorrow, we begin a month of 31 days, so I’m using that to take us through the 31 chapters of The Proverbs. Come back to see what treasure and wisdom I find there, and be sure to share your own in the comments.
Now, the shema as stated by YahShua (Jesus)…
Matthew 22:36-38 WEBUS
[36] “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” [37] Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’[38] This is the first and great commandment.
https://bible.com/bible/206/mat.22.36-38.WEBUS
And His next words expound on it a little more...
Matthew 22:39-40 WEBUS
[39] A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ [40] The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
https://bible.com/bible/206/mat.22.39-40.WEBUS
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Stained (Glass) Heart
I’m one of those people who can attract stains to my clothing with very little effort. I finally ordered my own set of dental bibs to use when I want to protect what I’m wearing from what I’m eating or drinking. The plastic coating helps a lot, but I still need to be more mindful when I’m moving food to my mouth to hit the target and not the bib. 😁 Coffee doesn’t always make that task too easy, though. ☕
But what do you do to keep your heart from getting stains? God says, through the prophet Isaiah, that He will cleanse our hearts for us…
Isaiah 1:18 WEBUS
[18] “Come now, and let’s reason together,” says Yahweh: “Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
https://bible.com/bible/206/isa.1.18.WEBUS
And, though our goal is to remain stain free, when we fail, we have a Friend and Advocate who stands in our place with His own precious blood. I like the way the verse reads in the New Living Translation…
1 John 2:1 NLT
[1] My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.
https://bible.com/bible/116/1jn.2.1.NLT
YahShua can be our bib to protect our hearts from stains, as well as our detergent to cleanse them when necessary, but we are the first line of defense by keeping our own lives free from whatever would stain them. We do that by walking on the road on the other side of the narrow gate mentioned in Matthew 7:13. I made a verse image for that one years ago, but as I was tagging this, I also realized that the word “Bible” starts with the word “bib.” Isn’t that interesting? His entire Word is protection!
I’ll close this with a parody I wrote many years ago based on the song Country Roads by John Denver. I’m not sure if any parody bands have even done a song based on this, but I’d love to hear these lyrics done by someone one day…
NARROW ROAD
It's not Heaven,
Where we're livin',
But we're promised,
Someday we will leave here.
No one's old there,
In that land of ease,
Where we'll live forever,
with our Prince of Peace.
Narrow road, lead me home,
To Heaven's gates, where I belong.
My home forever, with my Savior,
Narrow Road, lead me home.
I hear His Voice in the mornings as He calls me, The Bible it reminds me of my home far away. And walking down this narrow road I get a glimpse of paradise and life His way, His best way...
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A Heart for Rescue
I tried to get the AI to make a heart rescuing a heart because the risk and care taken by real-life rescuers really takes a lot of heart. It got close, anyway. This is for the 85th birthday of the Coast Guard on Feb 19th.
And, I cannot think of anything Coast Guard without thinking of my uncle who went to Vietnam on a CG cutter called the Minnetonka. Here’s a shot of the day he got home and the big welcome banner my dad painted for him…
I was little, but I think he’s holding my little sister. I love seeing all the family there to “rescue” him from his long term at sea. There were many families waiting for returns that day, and what a celebration it is to bring a soldier or sailor back home.
While we humans celebrate safe returns of those we love, imagine our Creator who doesn’t want ANYONE to perish waiting with open arms to bring us into our forever home with Him. His Word is filled with glimpses and promises to show just how important that reunion will be. We get just a tiny taste of it each time we share God’s joy by lifting Him up and seeing Him draw a new soul to His kingdom life. The truth is, He could go out and just rescue souls by Himself, but He invites us to participate with Him because He wants to share that intense joy with us. If you’ve ever reached out to a lost soul and then got to be there in that joyous moment when they decide to turn their life around, you know what a privilege it is to be part of that big rescue.
God’s Holy Scriptures give us a number of invitations to be that giant heart performing rescues from the choppy waves of sin that threaten to drown many souls. Here are a few of them…
Psalms 82:4 WEBUS
[4] Rescue the weak and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.”
https://bible.com/bible/206/psa.82.4.WEBUS
Proverbs 24:11 WEBUS
[11] Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.24.11.WEBUS
Psalms 37:40 WEBUS
[40] Yahweh helps them and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, because they have taken refuge in him.
https://bible.com/bible/206/psa.37.40.WEBUS
And then the praise of the Psalmist who knew from what God rescued him…
Psalms 40:2 WEBUS
[2] He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.
https://bible.com/bible/206/psa.40.2.WEBUS
I remember my rescue, and sometimes, when life gets hard, that memory helps keep me going. Join me in worship for your own rescue as you listen to this lyric video of “He Brought me Out”…
So Happy 85th Birthday to the sailors and rescuers of the US Coast Guard, and happy seeking to rescue the perishing and care for the dying to all believers who know we have a gift worth sharing with those who are still lost and without Christ. May God lead you to know when to sow and when to reap, and may He give you abundant joy as you watch Him give the increase of rescued souls.
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A Patriotic Heart–Daily Prompt 1850
Are you patriotic? What does being patriotic mean to you?
The definition of patriot from Merriam-Webster says, “one who loves and supports their country” and includes synonyms of loyalist and nationalist. The “Did You Know” section at https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patriot has some interesting history of the word. And, of course, if you’re gonna call yourself patriotic, which means to be a patriot, you should know the meaning of the word.
I wasn’t planning on responding to the prompt today, but it seemed to match the picture I’d already created, so I figured I would try. And in looking at some other responses, maybe it’s necessary. I grew up with a strong respect for our country, our flag, and our leadership–including local law enforcement. I’ve never thought it was okay for someone to flout the law of the land just because they didn’t like it. That doesn’t mean that I’ve been perfect, but it does mean I respect the law and know when I’ve done wrong and deserve consequences (with sequence, or what follows).
As a follower of YahShua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ) and His holy written Scripture, I cannot use “love of country” to excuse attitudes, words, or behaviors that don’t obey God’s word. But, I also cannot use my love of God as an excuse to ignore the law of the land. I stop at red lights, and I pay my taxes. And, if I violate the law, I pay the fine or go to traffic school.
To me, patriotism doesn’t mean I love EVERY thing my country does or every decision it makes. But it does mean I stay supportive of the country as my homeland and stay grateful for the decisions I do agree with. If I disagree with something, I can vote for change. If the subject is not on the ballot, I can enlist the help of others to put it on the ballot where my vote can be counted. Violating the laws of the land, like blocking public roads, is neither patriotic nor a good use of freedom. And if consequences follow that don’t feel good, well, that’s what happens. I mean, I absolutely hate the taking of innocent lives via abortion, but I would never bomb one of the clinics that performs them. Why? Because another thing I learned as a child was that two wrongs don’t make a right.
So, yes, I am patriotic, and I’m still grateful to be an American. Years ago, I shocked some people when I went to hear Bill Clinton speak even though he was not my chosen candidate. But I wasn’t going to hear the man, I was going to hear “The President of The United States.” I respect the office and the authority regardless of who occupies the position. Sadly, it wasn’t long after that when I attended some school events for nephews and nieces and saw teachers refuse to place their hands over their hearts in respect for the flag, or our nation’s National Anthem. It was only a matter of time before students stopped learning how to respect the authority of any position from the highest position in the land to the lowest.
That change in respect was shortly before the first major school shooting incident that seemed to set up a pattern of many others. And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that disrespect of law and authority, and a lack of value for human life, created that subset of attitudes. I would caution parents and teachers about repeating negative media tropes about The President or our law enforcement to children who can sponge it up and turn it into a bigger monster than anyone wants to deal with. Maybe the little parody my mom used to sing to the tune of the Pepsodent toothpaste jingle isn’t sung anymore, but those words (“You’ll wonder where your father went if he talks against The President”) were a lesson in respect that I think we could all use again.
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What is Your Treasure?
In this heart health month, it’s also a great time to check up on the health of your spiritual heart since it spills over into your physical heart and life. “Doctor Jesus” gives us the perfect prescription for great heart health.
Matthew 6:19-21 WEBUS
[19] “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; [20] but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; [21] for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
https://bible.com/bible/206/mat.6.19-21.WEBUS
And since it is also National Haiku Writing Month (NaHaiWriMo), here’s a set of haiku verses I put together for this occasion.
Treasure Hunter
Where your treasure is...
Your heart will oversee it,
And protect it well.
Because your heart knows...
The value of your treasures,
Though no one else sees.
It will keep your dreams,
And remind you of them...
Just when you need hope.
So be careful then,
To treasure things with value,
Fill your heart with God.
And that’s it for this one. I’d love to see some haiku from readers in the comment box.
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Treasure In My Heart
Heart Leaf in The Park in Decorative Frame
Welcome to the first installment of Theologically Thursday. The word of God and the doctrines of serving Him are good for every day of the week, so you may see theologies on other days as well. However, my goal will be to always bring something specifically related to Scripture and Bible study on my Thursday blog posts.
For a simple post about matters of the heart, I started with a search for Scriptures that pointed to the heart, and that brought me to the one in the image above from Matthew 6:21 in the King James’ Version.
Next, I read over Psalm 37:4 where the words from the New King James’ Version say, Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. And then I read in Proverbs 4:23, in the Complete Jewish Bible, the following: Above everything else, guard your heart; for it is the source of life’s consequences.
There are so many Scriptures on the heart that I can see a variety of topics drawing me in for deeper study. For today, however, I will focus on the idea that God is in the business of granting our desires in the same way good parents want to grant the desires their children have. A good parent doesn’t say “yes” to everything–no matter how much the child whines and begs. Instead, a good parent teaches a child why some things are better to desire than others. For example, a good father doesn’t help his son find drugs that will harm him no matter how much the son thinks he wants them to “be cool” to his friends. And, a good mother will teach her daughter to desire a mate that will treat her as a person of value rather than helping her get the attention of the most popular guy in school just because that what she says she wants at the time.
In His holy word, our Abba Father teaches us that if we will focus on Him, seeking Him first above all else, He will grant us our desires. I believe that if our treasures are truly wrapped up in Him, our desires will be for things He desires to fulfill. The Scripture in Psalm 37 may actually mean that God will literally place the correct desires in our hearts.
To make sure our loving Father can freely bless us with whatever we desire, all we need to do is protect our hearts from distractions that seek to turn our thoughts away from God and His love. If we trust in His sovereignty, we will have desires, but we will not covet anything not already in our lives because we will trust that He is our provider of right desires and of fulfilling those right desires.
May we all seek to hide an abundance of treasure from God’s word in our hearts that we will not sin against Him even in our desires, and may He fulfill every right desire of our hearts.
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