Guard your heart, don't follow it. Our first
scripture today is Proverbs chapter 4 verse 23
in the CSB version. It says, guard your heart
above all else, for it is the source of life.
The heart doesn't need to be followed, it needs
to be guided by God's truth. I can always remember
this quote because it really stuck out to me.
The phrase follow your heart means to follow
how you feel which is not a good message because
when we follow our feelings, We don't get anywhere
in life our feelings change like the weather
one minute we can feel up and the next we can
feel down Feelings aren't a bad thing It's just
when we start following our feelings instead
of God. That's when it becomes a problem, because
then our feelings become an idol. The Holy Spirit
is our guide, not our feelings. And another name
for the Holy Spirit in the Bible is the Spirit
of Truth. So then, when we live by the Spirit
of Truth and not our feelings, we will be able
to go much farther. In Luke chapter 6 verse 45
in the ERV version, it says, they say good things.
But those who are evil have hearts full of evil.
And that's why they say things that are evil.
What people say with their mouths comes from
what fills their hearts. What's in our head is
going to show on our face and in what we say.
Whatever is in us is what's going to come out
of us. Another reason we shouldn't follow our
hearts is because it's flesh and it has fleshly
interests. The heart is also very easily influenced
by whatever we let get into our subconsciousness.
Following our feelings can lead us into depression
and other negative habits. We don't do something
just because we don't feel like doing it. Our
last scripture is Proverbs chapter 8 verse 33
in the CSB version which says, Don't ignore it.
Also, in Proverbs 5 verses 7 through 8, it says,
do not be wise in your own eyes. Humanly wisdom
is not the same as godly wisdom. And it's dangerous,
especially when we're taking our quote unquote
wisdom from the way that we feel. And sometimes
we're the opposite. Sometimes we know what is
right, but we ignore it and that's not being
wise. This scripture is like a reminder especially
for when we are tempted to live by our feelings
or not to do something even though it's our responsibility
just because we don't feel like it. God has the
very best in store for us. And even though we
know it sometimes, our feelings tell us to do
the opposite just because we feel so comfortable
right now. But because of sin, us humans like
to gravitate to things that are bad for us instead
of the things that are good for us. Remember,
feelings change like the weather, but Jesus is
always constant. Constantly good and consistently
good. We can either be weak and continue doing
wrong because it feels pleasurable Comfortable
or we can be strong and do right Because that
is what the Holy Spirit the spirit of truth tells
us to do our points for today are one The Holy
Spirit should be our guide not our feelings when
we allow our feelings to guide us and to lead
us they become an idol and That's when they need
to be guided by the spirit of truth 2. Whatever
is in us is going to come out of us. However
we feel, if we don't put a hold on our feelings,
it's going to come out of us. If we feel angry,
we're going to stay and do anything in that moment
of anger just because we feel angry or we feel
wronged. If we feel happy, yeah, we'll be happy
for a little bit. But then if we feel sad, we
want to be depressed. Is that a life we want
to live? No. And lastly, 3. When we guard our
heart, it's less likely to be influenced by the
world because we have our eyes fixed on Christ.
Not how we feel or not what we want to do, but
just on Christ and what He wants for us, His
perfect and complete will. So, if you have a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then
this message will help you. But if you don't
have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ,
then I invite you to give your heart to the Lord
today. To receive him into your heart go to Romans
10 9 through 10 It says that if you confess with
your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your
heart that God has raised him from the dead You
will be saved for with the heart one believes
unto righteousness and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation If you said this prayer
with sincerity, you are saved and now have eternal
life with Jesus. You are saved from all your
sins, past, present, and future sins you may
commit. Now this truth is not a free pastis in
any time. Instead, Jesus gives you power over
all wrong choices and empowers you to spread
the gospel to others. You are saved forever and
your name is written in the book of life!