Proverbs 3:5-8 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all
your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the
LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”

Proverbs 28:26 “Whoever trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”

Jeremiah 17:9-10 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
‘I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the
fruit of his deeds.’”

Mark 7:21-23 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft,
murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these
evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Alright, I know, I know – I have often spoken on the Disney lie of “just follow your heart”…. and the excuse “the heart wants what the heart wants”…. And obviously, the Bible is pretty clear how troublesome,
self-serving, sinful, and just plain bad the human heart is.

What happens though, when you surrender your heart to Jesus, and let the Holy Spirit lead?

First, consider how passionate you are about something and how much you “love” certain things. At all
costs, most of us will run after, even unto our dying breathe, to do whatever it is, get whatever it is,
spending all our time, energy, and resources to go after those things or desires.

I picture the young boy who wants to be a Major League Baseball Player and puts all his efforts into it,
stays the course, and achieves the dream. I picture an entrepreneur that wants to start a business that
will impact the world, make them money, and build a legacy. It started probably when they opened their
first lemonade stand, or mowed lawns, and then those lessons moved in a technological direction or
medical one…. maybe even inventing some life altering machine that revolutionizes an entire industry.

I also picture the young boy who had his first toke, saw his first adult film, stole his first toy, and it takes a
root in the heart, and he becomes a prolific addict, serial killer, or thief. Or how about that first time a
person hears a juicy story, and shares it, and they get hooked on gossip. They end up becoming busy bodies, homewreckers, relationship destroyers.

In both the positive and negative instances, the passion and the desire of the heart are so strong they perfected the good and the evil.

Now, consider a sinner that has given their lives to Christ, that has a total heart change, and that passion
and desire is turned towards God and righteousness. They become a force of faith to be reckoned with,
become a preacher that leads a great awakening, a man that was once a swindler becomes a great man
that gives everything up to care for the orphans and the poor, a once narcissistic young man engulfed in
selfishness and desperate to be loved becomes a pastor that gives his all, leaves all he knew and shepherds a church halfway across the country and preach the things God wants said that others won’t.

 

The bridled heart made new by Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, submitted to God and the Word
transforms the passion, energy, and desire into something extraordinary…. And if you’re a believer, a
follower of Jesus, born again – a true Christian…. Then I am talking to you!! I am telling you, when
God gets ahold of your heart, you become an extraordinary person, filled with heavenly purpose, on
holy fire for the LORD, and when you let the LORD lead your heart – you will accomplish great things
for the Kingdom of God.

So, are you following your heart or are you following the LORD’s heart? Is your old heart made new?
Is your new heart submitted to God and led by the Holy Spirit?

Take the time to read more of God’s Word in Matthew 5-7 and see what God is saying – then let Him
do some heart-work. You will find your heart warmed and changed…. If you let the LORD into the
door of your heart!

By Jesus Grace,

Pastor Daren