Follow Your Heart - Good Advice from the #Bachelor?

 

I keep thinking about "The Bachelor".  I guess it really shook me up - all that honesty and everything.

Something stuck with me that Jake kept saying in the show - "I just have to follow my heart."  Sounds so romantic.  

Maybe you have said something like it before.  "I did it because I felt like it."  "My heart wasn't in it anymore."  

I am guilty of saying these things too.  Very treacherous words.

Actually, it's a convenient excuse.  A cover-up for selfishness.

It also ended up a way for Jake to explain his choice of fiance without hurting feelings or taking responsibility (or so he thought).

In reality, while following one's heart sounds like a good decision making strategy, it ends up being poor theology.

After all, the heart is fickle.  If we followed our heart at every turn, we'd end up with a new romance every month, regardless of marriage commitment.  I heard recently that those who contact an "old flame" after getting married are 18 times more likely to have it end in an extra-marital affair.

Please don't follow your heart.

The Bible says,

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6

In other words, don't trust your heart - trust God.  The heart changes.  Our feelings will lead us in a different direction each day.

Again, it says,

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." - Colossians 3:1-2

God invites us to set our hearts on Him and His ways.  How generous, when we understand what a poor track record we have following our heart.

The heart is a good follower; not a good leader.

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Finding God's Will - The First Step is a Deusey!

I have wrestled a lot in my life.  Not on the mat - anytime I got out there, I lost.  My wrestling has mostly been in understanding and following God's will.  Maybe you are the same.

But so far in my struggles, I do believe that this whole issue of God's will in my life boils down to two facets:

1. Understanding God's Will
2. Following God's Will

For those who struggle, I think a lot of us get stuck on the first part. We pain sometimes over the minutiae of decisions, believing that God has a step-by-step plan for our lives.  If only we could get a detailed, turn-by-turn map like what Google maps provides.

If I had a map for God's will, I would follow it, wouldn't you?

But I think we need to suspend temporarily spending thought and energy on understanding God's will and concentrate on following God's will.  Because I believe that in a very fundamental way, God has already settled the issue for us.  I believe that He's already given us a plan for our lives.  Something to follow that will take us through every motion, every decision in life.

And here's the secret, revealed by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:3:

It is God's will that you should be sanctified

I'm not trying to downplay the efforts people put in to get God to weigh in on my decisions:  where to go to school, what career to choose, which person to marry, etc.  All I am saying is that we should make a daily choice to live every day, with the Spirit's power, a life that is pleasing to Him.

Before we settle the issue on our daily or even long-term decisions, we need to settle the issue of the heart.

Am I pleasing God with every thought, word and deed?  Is everything that comes from within me from a motivation of pure love?  If not, maybe it's time to stop searching for the "what" of God's will and start concentrating on the "Who."  God himself wants to transform you from the inside out.  That's God's will for each of us - that we should be sanctified.

As we continue to wrestle with the day to day, let's make the first decision of each day to give ourselves to God, letting Him have control of our very heart.  And He will sanctify us, giving us the privilege of experiencing His love being expressed through us all day long.

And the wrestling over life's decisions will be easier, because we have settled the most important issue about God's will for us.

How do I do this?

1. Believe that God wants to transform you in that way.
2. Decide to give up on any other way but God's way.

Start off each day following God's will, because you know what it is for you.  And understanding God's will for the other decisions will be an easier struggle.

Like what you are reading? Consider the following: 1. Subscribe to my blog (there is a link for that on this page). 2. "Follow" me on twitter. It's a free account, and a great way to meet like-minded friends. My link is: http://twitter.com/tommccomb. 3. Leave a comment (I love your candid feedback and might use your ideas in future posts) 4. Tell someone else about this blog. Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you soon.