Total Eclipse of the Heart
Princess Diana was once quoted as saying, “Only do what your heart tells you.” Oprah Winfrey, during her farewell show, entreated her fans to “Live from the heart of yourself.” Even Celine Dion captured our imaginations with her melodic wail of “My heart will go on.” Our culture is heavily saturated with these seemingly romantic and lofty ideals that our hearts are to be listened to, trusted, and invited to make important decisions. Does it shock you that this is utterly false? For starters, Jeremiah 17:9 states, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” My friends, I hate to break it to you like this, but your closest roommate—the one sharing your chest wall—is a sociopath. It lies to you. Would you ever take advice or follow the direction of someone whom others described as “desperately wicked”? Never! And yet, our lives are a constant unseen battle with this deceitful foe.
Logically, in your brain, you know you should not put stock in how you feel at any given moment. However, we make subtle allowances almost daily, and they often sound something like this:
I need him to prove he loves me physically, even though I know it’s wrong.
I need to starve myself, or else I won’t fit into my jeans or my group of friends.
I need to spend money I don’t have on things I don’t need so that people will be impressed.
I need to tell him exactly what’s wrong with him and I don’t care if I yell or hurt him.
Of course there are other sins involved in each of these examples, such as pride, greed, wrath, etc. But the common theme here is our “need” to validate any and every emotion as it arises. And where are these flights of fancy originating? You guessed it. That organ that all of the pop songs and talk show hosts tell us to listen to: the heart. In contrast, Proverbs 28:26 says, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool.”
Beloved, guard your hearts and cling to the word of God, for Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “The word of God is living and powerful… and is a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart.” The only standard of truth we have with which to combat our depraved hearts is the Word. Bathe yourself in it, and watch as the Lord sets you free from the chains of being a slave to your emotions.
6 comments
Mary | June 24, 2011
Wow! This article could not have come out for me at a more appropriate time. How true all what was said by Cathe and how powerful the biblical foundation!
I must admit, as a woman, I tend to subscribe to using my heart guiding me a lot of the times. Coincidentally, the subject came up yesterday, with my husband, as he shared how unfairly treated he felt when I expect him to "fix" certain things in his character, yet when it comes comes to me "fixing" mine, I expect to be given a break; because I justify my emotions (my heart) as the ones responsible for my inability to control certain negative traits of my character (anger).
I empathized with my husband after hearing his perspective and I feel that this article complemented my "eye opening" experience to help me acknowledge my weakness.
Thank you Cathe for sharing your wisdom.
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Christina | June 25, 2011
I had relied on the yearnings of my heart much of my life because I did not know any better, thinking if it was in my heart then it is okay, but many times I was so wrong!!! I took a lot of wrong turns. I did not put God first. I put my heart first..Now I pray on things and decisions I have to make. I take more time to reply at emotional times. This is a very important lesson. Thanks Cathe
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Bea | June 25, 2011
This was sent to me from my sweet prayer partner and she knew it was timely:
I keep reacting to the emotions that my recently injured heart experienced. I learned at my church during lady's night that we can apply "listening prayer." You can give those emotions to Jesus and ask Him to give you a replacement for them. Just wait for His response, listen..He will give you a truth and the truth shall set you FREE. Hallelujah!!!
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Maribel | June 27, 2011
I can't even begin to explain how this spoke to my heart. Thank you!
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BJ | June 29, 2011
God bless you sister! At my conversion the Lover of my soul gave me a heart transplant and now it's just been a matter of caring for it. I find myself always asking Him to "search my heart and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting."
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Lisa Singer | July 28, 2011
Ashlee, this is a very timely message. Thank you!
Lisa
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