Are you free to follow your heart?
I guess that depends on who you ask.
God’s word says:
“The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jer 17:9 KJV
R. C. Sproul, Jr. says “Our calling isn’t to follow our hearts. Our calling is to have our hearts informed by, directed by, the clear and plain teaching of the Word of God.”
Jesus said, ” – saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Luk 22:42 ESV
And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38 ESV
Making choices
What if your choices don’t agree with the Lord’s choices?
I’ve used Mary’s words a lot in my life. Two times it was especially meaningful were the times cancer took us by surprise.
When our son was 16 months old he was diagnosed with leukemia. The night before he was diagnosed, we were both in the hospital. I spent the night pleading with the Lord not to ask me to walk through this. Could it please be something else, something easier that I could handle.
He said no.
The next morning we began our 3 1/2 year journey through leukemia. I used Mary’s words and leaned into the Lord.
The second time was the night before I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I stayed up all night once again and pleaded with the Lord not to ask me to walk through this.
He said no.
Once again I used Mary’s words and leaned into the Lord.
Each day of these two journeys the Lord has given me the measure of grace I’ve needed. I could accept it or reject it. Even if I accepted it, I had to apply it when it was needed. When I didn’t accept it, things got messy. When I accepted it but didn’t apply it things still got messy.
It was only as I allowed the Lord to show me how and when to apply his grace that I was able to stand. It was never easy, but it was do-able.
The Lord gives each of us our measure of grace each day. How are you using yours? You don’t have to wait for some great problem, we all need the Lord’s grace daily.
My next post will tell you what has happened to our son.
Update on me.
I’m still healing. The hole in my incision seems to be healing – very slowly. I’m trying to learn how to handle fatigue for the next five years. A visit with the doctor means I will come home and take a two-hour nap and all I do is ride in the car and walk into the doctor. I’m starting to feel stronger. We still don’t know what to do with me and Covid-19. So far I’ve only left home to go to doctor appointments.
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