Follow your heart. Be true to yourself. Pursue your own inner peace. These and similar ideas are given as common advice, and they sure sound nice. Unfortunately, such ideas are terrible advice. Following our hearts and spirits is a great way to traverse a path of destruction. Sadly, such a path is well traveled.
Even after being conquered by Babylon, some among the Lord’s people followed their whims instead of turning to God. Some were even supposed prophets!
In Ezekiel 13:2-3 God said to Ezekiel, “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts: ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’ Thus says the Lord God, Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!” Speaking from the heart and following their own spirit earned those prophets a rebuke from God then and will today as well. Don’t follow your heart—let God’s Word transform your heart to be like His!