Have you ever heard the comment, “Trust your heart”? Cute, isn’t it? It looks good on a coffee mug or in a picture frame in the den. But more deceitful words were never spoken, at least according to Scripture. Let’s look at some of the words of God, shall we?
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?
1 Corinthians 2:14
But a natural man (an unsaved man) does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually appraised.
Ezekiel 36:26-27
Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
You see, our hearts are not to be trusted when it comes to the big decisions of life. Why? Because the heart will lead us to do what feels good in the moment but is not good in light of eternity.
But God’s Spirit, which resides in our hearts after salvation, is to be trusted. I mean, let’s get real about the heart when it comes to decision making. Is it really the heart that makes decisions? I do not believe so. It is the mind that makes decisions, and those decisions are often influenced by hormones released in the moment. Dopamine or adrenaline makes us feel a certain way, which leads to choices that may or may not be productive.
But the Holy Spirit’s work in my saved heart is to be trusted. If you are not yet a believer but you are interested in finding out more about this Jesus fellow, or the church, or Christianity in general, that is probably the Holy Spirit drawing you to Jesus, changing your heart. And it may have been happening for quite some time in your life.
In our Luke passage, the shepherds were just going about their business. Shepherding sheep is a pretty mundane existence, after all. And who knows what consumed their thoughts on that night or any night. But suddenly the angel of the Lord appears and they are filled with fear and awe. I personally do not think it is possible not to be filled with some fear when the Holy Spirit comes into your life to reveal the truth about Jesus.
God can change your heart (your mind) right now, today.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart (your whole inner being, trust Him completely), and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.
If God is drawing you through the power of His Spirit to embrace the truth of the Gospel, the Good News, please do not resist. Jesus loves you and paid the ultimate price to save you. Embrace Him!
