Vain Jangling
Follow your heart.

It might sound romantic to encourage a person to “follow their heart” but it has the potential to be unwise or even dangerous in some cases.

Here is the problem with such a statement:
Scripture warns, “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Then poses the question, “Who can know it?”

In other words, can our hearts even be trusted? Trusted to the extent that we make important, life changing decisions based on its feelings?

“Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man.” (Matthew 15:18-20a) We are also warned to “flee youthful lust” as it may (or will) move us to make decisions we believe are based on our heart (i.e. love, affection—good intentions) but may actually be based in the flesh (i.e. sexual desire, immorality—selfish intentions).

We are to refrain from trusting in self (i.e. our heart) and fully trust in God to direct our paths. (Proverbs 3:5-7) To examine our thoughts and imaginations in the wisdom of “the word of God.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) For it “is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) To “follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)