“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
It’s midnight. You should be in bed. But the Mariner’s game went into extra innings. Not only should you be in bed, but now, you’re hungry. You ate dinner at five. It’s been seven hours since your last meal. What should you do?
- Your feelings say – I’m hungry!!! Let’s eat!!!
- Your brain tells you – Go to bed!!! No way are you eating at midnight!!!
It’s raining again. We do live in the Pacific Northwest after all. You should take a walk. It would be good for you. You made a commitment to get healthier. But it’s raining. What should you do?
- Your feelings say – it’s raining. It’s wet. You don’t want to put on all that gear and walk. Just call it a day. Besides, this sofa is so comfy.
- Your brain tells you – you made a commitment to be healthier. Commitments matters. Besides, you benefit the most from being healthier. Let’s get out there.
When it comes to living healthier lives you would never consider following your feelings. If you were truly serious about living healthy, you base it on commitment and to what you know to be right.
We know this when it comes to living physically healthy lives. And it just boggles my mind why we would allow our hearts to dictate how we live healthy spiritual and emotional lives. That’s dumb!!! Our hearts cannot be trusted. Feelings cannot be trusted.
In fact, our passage today tells us that we are to trust our hearts and our feelings to the LORD. That’s what it means to not lean on our own understanding.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE A GOD-HONORING LIFE BY LIVING BASED ON FEELINGS.
In all your ways submit to God and his rule. Then God will make our paths straight.
Whatever you do, DO NOT TRUST YOUR HEART. It will lead you astray.
TRUST IN THE LORD WITH YOUR HEART.
Got it?
Praxis: Faith in Action 