Heart AND Head

To be all heart and no head is not Biblical.

Many folks will say they have a “heart” for such and such, or that God spoke to their “heart.”

It’s easy “Christian-speak” to fall into, especially if one is a new believer in the evangelical fold.

My response to these “heart” statements is,

“Do you also have a mind for such and such?”

and

“Did God also speak to your brain?”

All heart can be illogical, yes—even in God’s economy (some people seem to think that all ministry must make no sense in order for them to do it—it seems more “radical,” sacrificial and spiritual to them).

Yet God, in His magnificence, did give us these little things in our heads called thinking caps, stitched together with brain cells.

And so this notion that we are to tie the love and serving of God with heart alone, and that to hear from God means to hear with our heart only, is to miss completely His warnings on how the heart can mislead, and how we must not give our hearts “carte blanche” simply because they are our hearts and our feelings are strong:

“The heart is more deceitful than all else

And is desperately sick;

Who can understand it?

‘I, the LORD, search the heart,

I test the mind,

Even to give to each man according to his ways,

According to the results of his deeds.’” Jeremiah 17:9-10

“Examine me, O LORD, and try me;

Test my mind and my heart.” Psalm 26:2

“A person may think their own ways are right,

but the LORD weighs the heart.” Proverbs 21:2

God’s call to wisdom and knowledge is often tossed aside—or never learned to begin with—due to our desire to do what we want and cloak the go-ahead in a heart-shaped confirmation from God.

But God may indeed not approve, or at minimum, may not have unequivocally called us to the thing we are “feeling” (meaning there may be many Godly options; therefore, if a spouse or some other concern may challenge our emotional surety, then we need to reconsider and not forge ahead. We need to seek and honor the counsel, Godly wisdom and input of others and begin to perceive the Spirit’s inner Godly logic):

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” Proverbs 12:15

“He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;

He who keeps understanding will find good.” Proverbs 19:8

“Listen to counsel and accept discipline,

That you may be wise the rest of your days.” Proverbs 19:20

“Many plans are in a man’s heart,

But the counsel of the LORD will stand.” Proverbs 19:21

“And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;” John 16:8

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.” John 16:13-14

God calls us to grow in and rely upon His wisdom and knowledge in all of our decisions and attitudes—in all aspects of life.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

“But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16b

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;” 2 Peter 1:5

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18a

In this way, we trust in the Lord with all of our heart while yet not leaning on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

A heart informed by our increasing Biblical knowledge and the daily application of a growing spiritual maturity—in all situations and with all people—will not lead us astray. 

We will be able to incorporate the wise discernment God desires, being shrewd as serpents but at the same time as innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). 

We can then attain the steadfast consistency where the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

Copyright Barb Harwood