To Follow Your Heart or the Gospel?

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105

“The Bible was not given to increase knowledge, but to change our lives.” Dwight L. Moody

 

  • Today is the day to walk in God’s truth! Begin your morning with the Lord through His Living Word! Pray that He will help you carve out a few minutes to quiet your mind and heart before Him.
  • Read through as much of Psalm 119 as you are able. This beautiful chapter gives us a vision of the way we are to interact with God’s Word. Write down Psalm 119:105 in your journal. God’s Word is truly the only light we need in this life.

To Follow Your Heart or the Gospel?

Dear sister, you have been told to “follow your heart” from the time you were a little girl listening to fairy tales. Your eyes sparkled in wonder, and plans for the future swirled in your head as you watched the dreams of your heart unfold before you. What freedom and beauty you were promised! Glass slippers, magic carpet rides, and prince charming were all awaiting you at the end of the path paved by your heart’s desires. My friend, there couldn’t be a bigger lie than this. The magical path forged by our heart and emotions always leads to emptiness. You see, as Jeremiah 17:9 tells us, “the heart is deceitful above all things.” When we allow our feelings to dictate our decisions, we lead ourselves on a journey away from the holiness, goodness, and love of God.

That heart of ours, the one full of our girlhood dreams, is also the pinnacle of our fleshly desires (Mark 7:21). Following our heart often leads us astray and turns our actions inward, cultivating an attitude of self-centeredness rather than surrender to our Savior. God is so clear with us when He says in Proverbs 28:26 that she “who trusts [her] own heart is a fool.” So, where do we turn? If we cannot trust our very heart, if our deep feelings are not the ultimate source of truth, where do we look for answers?

My friend, God Himself is the Author of truth, and His living Word must inform our feelings and emotions. The Bible is one of God’s most beautiful gifts to us and is sufficient to direct us in any situation (2 Timothy 3:15–17). Through the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit of Jesus whispers words of peace, hope, and wisdom to our souls. God asks that we give our heart, our flesh, in surrender to Him and promises to renew it and sanctify us. Hear me on this, dear sisters, we cannot surrender our whole life to Christ if we are controlled by the whims of our heart and emotions.

Our feelings and opinions may not always align with the commands and wisdom of the Bible. But that does not make His Word any less true. God never lies (Titus 1:2), and His Word must trump our emotions. Romans 3:4a (NKJV) entreats, “Let God be true, but every man be a liar.” God’s Word is flawless (Psalm 18:30), and it stands firm above any human belief, cultural norm, or fleshly fantasy.

His Word is truly the only tangible thing of this earth upon which we can consistently rely. So, when faced with a decision or dilemma, instead of asking, “How do I feel about this?” ask yourself, “What does God’s Word say about this?” Instead of making decisions based on what feels right at the time, seek the “whole counsel of God” in His Word, allowing it to help you navigate your way through life (Acts 20:27).

As Isaiah beautifully describes, “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8 NLT). There is nothing more permanent in this life than Scripture. Turn your heart to God’s unchanging Word, and let it guide you toward truth (Psalm 119:89). Build your foundation on the Bible, and you are sure to stand firm when the waves of life crash over you. Let the Lord be your perfect peace and His precious Word be the light of truth to your heart.

Blessings and Love,

Tara Davis and the Help Club for Moms Team

Questions to Ponder

  • Take a close look at your heart: have you allowed it to rule your life? Do you believe in the absolute truth of Scripture, or have you allowed yourself to pick and choose which parts of the Bible to believe and which to dismiss as old-fashioned? Will you commit to seeking the heart of God through His Word instead of relying on your heart of flesh? Will you allow God, through His Word, to be the master of your life?

Faith-Filled Ideas

You have established that the Bible is truth and is the greatest reality to which you have access. The next step you must take is intimately knowing and loving the Word of God. Spend time every day digging into Scripture and allowing the Holy Spirit to help you discern your path in life.

As you journey closer to the Lord, there are some great tools available to you! Check out www.blueletterbible.org for in-depth Bible study. Download an audio Bible app and listen throughout the day. Spend time with other women who love God’s Word and discuss what you are learning (Proverbs 27:17). Most importantly, ask the Holy Spirit to speak His truth to you as you read your Bible each day. Ask Him to make the Word alive within you, allowing it to nourish your soul and train your mind in the ways of the Lord. He loves you and wants to tell you “great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3)!

The Lord and His Word are inseparable (John 1:1). If you want to know God’s views on a matter, look no further than His Word.

 

This devotional comes from our book “The Wise Woman Knows.” You can find it HERE!

Tara Davis
Latest posts by Tara Davis (see all)

5 Comments on “To Follow Your Heart or the Gospel?”

  1. So MANY awesome nuggets in your study today Tara! Thank you for sharing such a Well written study! I love these;
    -The Bible is one of God’s most beautiful gifts to us and is sufficient to direct us in any situation!
    – His Word is truly the only tangible thing of this earth upon which we can consistently rely.
    – His Word trumps our emotions!

  2. Tara, I love this whole Bible study, it is “spot on”. This advice you gave is very true and good: “So, when faced with a decision or dilemma, instead of asking, “How do I feel about this?” ask yourself, “What does God’s Word say about this?” Instead of making decisions based on what feels right at the time, seek the “whole counsel of God” in His Word, allowing it to help you navigate your way through life”. Yes and amen! Thank you for writing this!

  3. I LOVE this: “Following our heart often leads us astray and turns our actions inward, cultivating an attitude of self-centeredness rather than surrender to our Savior.” You are sooooo right Tara!

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