RELATIONAL LEADERSHIP

“JUST FOLLOW YOUR HEART”

It was Jenn’s mom’s birthday last Saturday.  Coming home from the Couples Getaway of Victory Fort,  she had a dinner for the whole family all set up – steak, liempo, puchero, and lots of other dishes.  It was a major feast.

Have you ever told yourself, “Ok, there’s lots of food.  I’m hungry.  But I won’t eat a lot tonight.”

Fast forward a couple of hours, you’re burping every minute because of the tons of food you ate.

That was me.

You’ve heard it’s been said to “follow your heart.”  (For this instance, it was follow my stomach.)

You like this guy, just follow your heart.
You want to transfer to another department, then just follow your heart.
You desire to leave your wife because she’s so annoying, then just follow your heart.
You want to spend more time with him even if you’re married because he gives you the attention you don’t get from your husband; then just follow your heart.
You know it’s wrong.  Going all the way won’t be the wisest thing to do.  But then again, just follow your heart.

Not sure if you’ve noticed by now, we are actually masters at self-deception.  At least I know I am.  I’ve lived long enough to realize that.

“I can eat this liempo.  I really haven’t had any in a long time… like 24 hours…”
“Just one won’t hurt.”
“No one notices anyway.”

We’re good at convincing ourselves to do something we know that’s not wise.

Then we end up messing up.  Then we blame our circumstances, others, our childhood, our parents, even God.  We blame everyone else except ourselves.

Let me tell you why we can’t follow our heart.

Jeremiah told us clearly that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

It’s deceitful.  It’s desperately wicked.

What would be a good standard to follow?  God’s given us His word.

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. (Joshua 1:8, NLT)

It is our compass.  When we stick to what He says, then the promise is that there is going to be success in all we do.

His Word.  Our standard.

 

 

,
, , , , ,
Paolo Punzalan's avatar

Posted by:

Paolo Punzalan

Husband, father, pastor and most importantly, Christ follower.

4 responses to ““JUST FOLLOW YOUR HEART””

  1. Nymfa Avatar
    Nymfa

    Thanks for sharing! Yes, we can only follow our hearts when GOD’s Word is inside….

    Reply
  2. Paolo Punzalan Avatar
    Paolo Punzalan

    @nymfa. thanks for the comment. i will have to say a big AMEN to your statement.

    Reply
  3. Ran Avatar
    Ran

    Saw you first time last Sunday at Victory (8/7/11 first visit) and made me realized how great God is. I always asked Him for the guidance and the right path to choose. This is an awesome week.

    I always remember what you said, He is inlove with me, crazily loves me..

    Reply
  4. judith santos Avatar
    judith santos

    Pastor Paolo,

    I did that for many years– I followed my heart… thats what the world taught me, so well that this was indellibly etched in my brain and most of what I did or allowed others to do to and for me had a signature stamp on it that sealed this philosophy. And when I thought I already had God in my life, I still struggled with the transition because I had a life that was not fully submitted to Christ. Isn’t it wonderful that God is such a gentleman that He still gives us choices. I picture Him doing a curtsey as He says “your will be done…”. Therefore, when there were occasions I still followed my heart I made many wrong decisions –and there I left myself open to many consequences. It was my own doing -the devil didn’t make me do it. I did it. The Holy Spirit told me it was not right, yet I went ahead and did it. All because it was not Jesus’ heart I followed- this is the sure-fire guarantee for failure.

    The question of Lordship –I believe is a question of whose heart I follow. I just recently fired a maid because she insisted on her own way, system and methods of caring for our household. The maid did not seek to do my will and ways I wanted my home cared for, she didn’t seem to care about how my heart desired things to be in my own home. How many times we do this to our Master –in His own temple: our body, our mind, our heart. Praise God He never fires us as His children and sooo wants to bless us –He is not content with merely sustaining us with an allowance.

    As James said, it is not enough to KNOW God’s teachings we have to DO what it says.
    And Ive heard it many times that– if Jesus is not Lord OF ALL (OF EVERYTHING about, within, out from, of –and all other prepositions– to me) then He isn’t Lord AT ALL (in my perspective and in all that I produce) If love comes from the heart and God is Love, He must live in our heart. If I died and Christ lives in me, I can no longer follow my heart.

    Following Jesus’ heart is my only guarantee to success in ALL I do and in EVERY decision I make. Thank God that He has made this known to a sinner saved by His grace- and no less.

    Reply

Leave a comment