The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable-who can understand it? I, Yahweh, examine the mind, I test the heart to give to each according to his way, according to what his actions deserve.  Jeremiah 17:9-10 HSCB

Today we celebrate Valentine’s day. We will see all kinds of hearts made of balloons and candy. Just as we can see candy hearts and balloon hearts, God can see our heart.

When the Bible speaks of our heart it is referring to our emotional being, not the organ that pumps blood through our bodies. In Biblical terms the heart encompasses our feelings and our emotions, and it determines how we see, feel about and act toward others.

We should never tell someone to follow their heart, because as you can see the Bible clearly tells us that the heart is more deceitful than anything else. In fact, in Proverbs 3:5-6 we are told not to rely on our own understanding, but in all we do we should acknowledge God and He will guide us on the right paths.

We should never allow ourselves to react emotionally. The flesh strongly desires to act on emotions, but we must consider how God would have us to act. We must be obedient to His Holy Word.

I have followed my heart or my emotions more times than I care to recall, and I can tell you they all led to disaster. It wasn’t until I surrendered my life to Christ and decided to do things His way that I found myself on the right path. God’s word holds true.

Someone can tell you they love you and not even truly understand what love is. Today the term love can mean anything from liking someone a little, to lust, to loving the way they talk or the way they dress. We overuse the term love so much today; it tends to lose its meaning.

People can also be deceitful. Many have fallen in love with someone who professed a deep love for them only to have that other person had deceive them and betray them.

Many of us do the same when it comes to Jesus. We profess our deep love for Him, but then we betray Him by following the ways of the world. We are told in James 4:4, “Adulteresses! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So, whoever wants to the be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy.”

I don’t know about you, but years ago, there came a time in my life when I realized that doing things my way and following the desires of my heart had brought me nothing but heartbreak and shame. I had to do it God’s way. I had to surrender it all to Him.

This is a decision I have never regretted. He has brought me through some dark days, and I have always seen the light that my hope in Him brings. He has always been that guiding light that keeps me on the right path.

There are times when I stumble, but praise God he holds on to me with His righteous right hand and keeps me from falling (Isaiah 41:10).

There is nothing wrong with Valentine’s day. There’s nothing wrong with celebrating the love you have for one another. But we should always put our love of God first. God should come before everything and everyone else in our lives.

And whatever you do as you go through this day and the days that follow, don’t follow your heart. It can’t be trusted. Trust in God and follow Him, He will never let you down.

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!