Just Follow Your Heart?

So I've been thinking a lot about this today.  I have a heaviness in me for my generation of young women, and the generations to follow. In a world where Kim Kardashian is a  role model and Cosmo has the answer to all of life's problems, it seems like all around us there is the mantra,  "follow your heart". Well, I have a problem with that, and so does the Lord.  I found some interesting scriptures to back this up.  We are taught to follow our hearts, but the Word says that our hearts are to follow God. 

Interesting. Ps. 119:30. "I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on Your laws."  Ps. 119:112, "My heart is set on keeping Your decrees to the very end." Proverbs 23:19, "Listen my son and be wise, and set your heart on understanding."  So many women have made devastating choices and have ruined their lives or the lives of others because they heeded the council to "follow your heart".  Basically just go with whatever you feel like doing.  

The heart represents our emotional inner person.  The seat of the emotions is the heart.  As women, we all know that our emotions fluctuate.  We are up and then down.  That's why the Bible says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond all cure" (Jer. 17:9).  How many times has my heart pulled me in a direction that was potentially destructive?  You'll notice people who live by the "follow your heart" philosophy are inconsistent, in and out of relationships, and constantly changing their minds on what they want to do with their lives.  We spend to much time trying to figure out what WE want instead of diligently seeking what His will is on our life. 

Parents!  instruct your kids to follow the Word!  Seek wisdom and understand and just do the right thing even when our hearts want to do something else.  When things are tough, or complicated our hearts are weary and may long for something more pleasant. In these times, which we all can relate to, we shouldn't be trying to figure out what our hearts want (aka, our flesh), or what feels better, but what the will of God is. Hide His Word in your heart (Ps. 119:11) and follow that!

Delight yourself in Him, knowing that in time, your hearts desires will be met.  You know, if you truly delight yourself in the Lord, the desires of your heart shift and change to where you just simply desire Him alone.  Turn your heart toward wisdom.  Guard it. Trust Him with all of it.  Seek His kingdom first.  Put your flesh aside and THEN everything you want will fall into place. Instead of following our hearts, let's pursue the calling that the Lord has placed on our lives and encourage others to do the same.

-Maria