The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"
Jeremiah 17:9 NIV
Chasing after the desires of our hearts can lead us down some dark and dangerous paths. The heart is very self-serving, caring only for what it wants and disregarding any consequences. Each Saturday, I witness the disastrous course the heart leads the addicted; loss of jobs, relationships, and homes.
The next verse answers the question, "Who can understand it?" “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” Here is the good news! God forgives us of our deceitful hearts, considering our intentions and actions instead. While our hearts often crave what is bad for us, we can reject temptation through God's gift of the Holy Spirit. In Christ, we have the strength to make positive choices counter to our earthly desires.
God, we give you thanks for your love and forgiveness. You look beyond our sinful hearts into our minds and see what we desire to be. We ask your help to reject temptation and make righteous choices. Let the things we do not be for our desires, but instead, glorify you. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Blessings!
Pastor Tim
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