When we want to advise people to follow their dreams, we tell them to follow their heart. The problem is, our hearts are pretty easily deceived, and even become deceptive. The heart wants what the heart wants, right?

Scripture has quite a bit to say about this subject. Jeremiah wrote about the heart, saying that it is the most deceptive of all things. According to Proverbs, the importance of understanding that is significant, because that heart determines the course of your life. Jesus said that where your treasure is, the desires of your heart will be, too, see Matthew 6:21.

Seems like Jesus was saying that if your heart’s desires aren’t in the right place, your treasure isn’t either. Your focus, your worship aren’t on Him. There’s good news, though!

If your heart’s desires fall short of what God would have them be, all you have to do is ask Him to provide the correct ones to you. In Psalms 37:4, David wrote that if we will delight ourselves in God, He will provide the desires of our hearts. Mind you, some will read that verse and say that it means God will provide what you desire, but that would be out of character for Him — granting the wishes of a deceived heart. Instead, when we choose to take delight in God, read His Word for truth and instruction rather than obligation, He will mold our desires to match His. Paul wrote in Philippians 2:13, that God is the One at work in us to give us the desire to do His will and the power to do that will, thus pleasing Him.

When we follow God, seeking to honor Him, He gives us the correct desires — the ones that will please Him. That is when we can follow our hearts. BUT if we’re not staying noonday-shadow close to Him, that same heart will lead us astray, away from God and godly decisions.

We have a choice to make today and every day, every moment of every day. Will we choose God or will we choose our hearts? One should be on the throne, the other ruled by it. We need to be intentional about getting that right.

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