Lead Your Heart, Not Follow

Hello Monday! It is a new week again! I hope those of you reading have had a great day and continue to have a great week! I know I have been slacking on the blog posts these past few days, but we have been busy. School is right around the corner and you can tell everywhere you look here in Birmingham. The clothing stores and school supply section of Wal-Mart is packed with people each time I go into town to run my daily errands. On our end, I have been scrambling around trying to find books and get things ready for class to start at UAB, while a work schedule for Tony is finally in full swing. As Newlyweds, we are starting to find our groove in Birmingham. This weekend we took off to explore Oak Mountain, and on Sunday moved Tony's younger brother into his college apartment. Regardless of where we went, because of instinct we knew to follow the crowd. Whether hiking trails in the middle of the woods or looking for apartment decor in Tuscaloosa people were absolutely everywhere. Although it was tax free weekend in Alabama, I assume Oak Mountain was packed because families were trying to get in those last few minutes of summer vacation. However, Tuscaloosa is a college town so there are always people everywhere anyway.


As we were hiking to Peavine Falls there were a few other families along the trail. Once we got to the bottom of the waterfall there was a pool you could stand under to cool off but you had to wait your turn since the area of water was small. The water was gorgeous, crystal clear and extremely cold! So, since it was hot we attempted to set out and find water that came up past our ankles. Tony and I decided to be adventurous and follow the flow of water thinking there would be a pool waist deep somewhere. Instead of following the crowd of other families, we took off on our own and did finally find a pool of water that was beyond our expectations! As cliché as it may sound, it was simply stunning to see and hear the wonders of the woods and water in the peace and quiet. We didn’t have to follow others to find it; we simply allowed the water flow to lead us.

When we were in Wal-Mart looking for items for Jordan’s apartment, things were bit of a different story. If you have never been a college freshman or have had a college freshman in your family to participate in move-in weekend, let me paint you a picture. Move-in weekend is one of those times where you either do not participate while waiting for the madness to die down and Wal-Mart to restock, or go big and get all up in the cluttered aisles of buggies, freshman, and their Momma’s! We went in to only grab a few items, but I noticed if you were pushing a buggy you were basically forced to: 1) Follow whoever was in front of you with their buggy 2) Dart across an aisle in hopes of not hitting someone with your buggy 3) Hit somebody with your buggy or have them hit you with theirs in an attempt to get where you needed to go. So, the lesson of the day was “A buggy would make or break your shopping trip.” Anyway, my point of describing all of this is to say that it was basically a game of follow the leader. It was not a quick “run in, run out” trip leading your freshman up and down each aisle while contently picking out décor. It was more like a “wait your turn in this aisle to get to the next aisle” trip.


So, you may be sitting there thinking, “What does this have to do what leading your heart instead of following it?” Last night as Tony and I are reading in the book Dare to Love: Love Dare, I was completely taken back when a passage spoke of leading your heart, not following it. As a little girl I was always told to follow my heart’s desires, but to have a book contradict that statement was truly a thought to ponder for me. I was confused, too. As I think back to those little girl days, following my heart might have been just fine, however as an adult I must have guidance because I am not able do things on my own. In today’s world, many people are told to follow their heart but if you are not leading it, someone or something else will. Regardless of the situations or circumstances found in life or love, as Christians, if we choose to follow our heart and not rely on God to lead our heart we are headed down the road of destruction with the devil in tow. Jeremiah 17:9 says the heart is more deceitful than all else and it will always pursue that which feels right only at the moment. According to Matthew 15:19, out of the heart comes only evil thoughts. Thinking back, I only wanted to follow my heart to the good things for the moment. I certainly did not want to follow my heart to evil. However, when I allow Jesus to lead my heart I know I can face the good days and the bad days with courage to pursue life and love. My goal this week is to think differently- - choosing instead to allow Christ to lead my heart toward that which is best in the long run, not what I feel is best for the moment. This week I am clinging to Proverbs 3:5-7-

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from all evil.”

If there are any prayer warriors reading today, I ask that you please say a special prayer for Tony and me this week as we begin the process of finding a church home and getting plugged in somewhere new. This weekend is the first weekend since our wedding that we do not have to travel somewhere to do something (Ah, hallelujah!!!). Pray we allow the Lord to lead us to the right church family in which we will serve Him and our community. We are relying heavily on guidance given to us by two sweet friends, but we want to allow the Lord to lead us to the church where we belong. Until next time, happy blogging to you and yours!