“Deceitful”

“The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17.9)

Do you trust your deceitful heart?

Jeremiah brought a prophecy of judgement to the nation of Judah. Their sins required punishment. Their deceitful hearts had turned from the Lord. Those that had trusted in their own hearts had found disaster. Those who trusted in God would be blessed (Jeremiah 17.1-8). Jeremiah reminded Judah that their own reasoning was faulty. The human heart is naturally deceitful. It is desperately wicked. They were being fooled by their own sinful reasoning. God would judge their deceitful hearts (Jeremiah 17.10).

You may have heard somebody tell you to “trust your heart.” “Follow your heart to find what is best for you.” These fortune cookie proverbs are unbiblical. Encouraging a person to follow their heart is based upon the assumption that people are naturally good. It assumes that a fulfilled life can only come through a person doing what they want to do. God desires good for us (Ezekiel 18.23; 1 Timothy 2.4; 2 Peter 3.9). He warns us that we are not naturally good (Romans 3.23). He tells us that true fulfillment can only be found in Him (Ecclesiastes 3.11, 12.13; John 14.6). God warns us that our hearts are deceitful and will lead us to destruction. God promises to bless those who trust in Him. He promises forgiveness of sins (Romans 10.9).

What lies are you telling yourself today? Your heart is deceitful. What sins are you trying to overlook in your life? Your heart is desperately wicked. Only God can make it new (Ezekiel 36.26). Only God can speak clearly without error (Hebrews 6.18). Seek His will through His Word and Holy Spirit (John 16.13; 2 Timothy 3.16). You will never regret following the Lord.

God, thank You for revealing my heart. Thank You for forgiving me of my sins. Thank You for guiding me into all truth. Please forgive me for the times I doubt You and trust myself. Give me greater clarity through Your Word and indwelling Holy Spirit as I walk with You. Thank You for speaking to my heart every day. Amen.

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Deceitful | Jeremiah 17:9
Weekly Bible Devotional

Written and Produced by:
Reverend David Lyda
Little Stevens Creek Baptist Church
Edgefield, SC

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.