There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick [incurable, desperately wicked, malignant] who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and test the mind…
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes.
…The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart– And [Jereboam] walked in all the sins of his father…his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.
David: Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths!
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.
Caleb: For my part, I wholeheartedly followed the LORD my God.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.
Then [Jesus] said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”
And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
Prov.14:12 ESV; Jer.10:23 ESV; Jer.17:9-10 ESV; Prov.3:3,5-7 NKJV; I Sam.13:14 NKJV; I Kings 15:3 NKJV; Ps.51:10 NKJV; Ps.81:13 NLT; Ez.36:26 ESV; Joshua 14:8 NLT; Ps.32:8-9 NKJV; Lk. 9:23 NLT; Rom. 6:13 NKJV; Jn. 8:12 NLT; Jn.10:27 ESV
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FOLLOW YOUR HEART is trendy advice. Given the post-modern penchant for embracing whatever ‘truth’ works for you, it’s fitting and certainly heart-felt. But beware the comely brush-script abloom with floral loveliness. Such flourishing is only truly found in pursuit of God’s heart. To follow His heart is to discover the fruitfulness for which you were made!
Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Ps.37:4 ESV
How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.
Ps.36:7-9 ESV
–Linda
