Lead Your Heart

"The heart of a man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps" (Prov. 16:9, ESV).

There is a line in the movie, Fireproof, that says something like, "You can't follow your heart, because your heart can be deceived.  You have to lead your heart."  We want to believe that our heart is unaffected by the Fall, that it wants what is best for us.  But the human heart has been affected by the fall, and has its own interests at heart.

If we follow the plans of our heart, without serious reflection, we can get into deep trouble.  I'm not saying that we cannot trust any of our desires, but that we need to be cautious.  When we plan, we need to ask ourselves to what end we are planning.  Are our plans about self promotion and self interest? Or are they about glorifying God in our lives? Or do we say they are about glorifying God, so he will bless us?

He's not fooled by our clever tactics.  He sees through our charade.  It is wiser to turn to the Lord, and to ask him to establish our steps, to allow him to show us the plans he has for us.  His plans always turn out for his glory our our good.

Sit down with the Word and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand it.  Read it. Study it. Meditate on it.  Pray it back to God.  Read it again.  Study it more.  As you do these things, allow the Word to form you, to shape you, and to challenge you.  Allow the Word to teach you God's plan, and then make it your plan.  Otherwise, the plans of your heart will come to nothing.

The Lord is ordering your steps, so step wisely.  Step up, and lead your heart.  If you don't, your heart will lead you, but not always to the place you want to go.