Any decision in our lives must be based on the wisdom of our God, because when we trust in our own hearts, we may make many mistakes before Him. Human reasoning, emotions, and personal desires are limited and often influenced by sin. When decisions are made apart from God’s guidance, they may seem right at first, but over time they reveal their flaws. Scripture consistently teaches us that true wisdom does not originate within ourselves, but comes from the Lord, who sees all things clearly and perfectly.
The Bible warns us repeatedly about relying on our own understanding. While human logic and experience have value, they are not sufficient to guide a life that seeks to please God. Our hearts are easily swayed by fear, pride, ambition, and self-interest. For this reason, the believer is called to submit every plan, desire, and decision to God, trusting that His wisdom is higher than our own.
The prophet Jeremiah gives us strong reasons to be careful about the inclinations and direction of the heart. In his time, the people of Judah had gone astray and had allowed their hearts to drift away from the Lord. They continued practicing religious rituals, but inwardly they had abandoned obedience and trust in God. Their problem was not merely external disobedience, but an inward corruption of the heart.
They followed their hearts without considering that they were straying from the ways of the Lord. Instead of seeking God’s will, they trusted their own instincts, desires, and reasoning. This false confidence led them to idolatry, injustice, and moral decay. The heart, once detached from God’s truth, became the driving force behind their rebellion.
Their hearts were described as wicked, not because they lacked emotion or sincerity, but because they were ruled by self-will rather than submission to God. This condition did not happen overnight. It was the result of repeated choices to ignore God’s Word, reject correction, and pursue personal desires above divine instruction. Jeremiah, as a prophet, was sent to confront this spiritual reality with honesty and urgency.
But these are the words the prophet speaks to them in Jeremiah 17:9, words that reveal a profound truth about the human condition:
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Jeremiah 17:9
This verse exposes the true nature of the human heart apart from God. The heart is described as “deceitful,” meaning it can easily mislead and betray us. It often disguises selfish desires as good intentions and convinces us that wrong choices are justified. The phrase “desperately wicked” does not suggest that every person is as evil as possible, but that the heart is deeply affected by sin and incapable of being a reliable moral guide on its own.
Why was their heart deceitful? Because they had turned away from the Lord to follow their own way. When the heart is disconnected from God’s truth, it becomes vulnerable to deception. What feels right may not be right, and what seems harmless may lead to destruction. Only God knows the heart fully—its motives, intentions, and hidden thoughts.
This truth humbles us. It reminds us that self-trust is dangerous when it replaces trust in God. Many people live by the phrase “follow your heart,” but Scripture teaches the opposite. We are called to lead our hearts with truth, not to be led by them. God’s Word must shape our desires, correct our thinking, and guide our decisions.
Let us not forget that only God knows us completely and examines our minds. He tests our hearts to give to each one according to his way. God’s examination is not superficial; it reaches the deepest parts of our being. He sees what others cannot see and understands us better than we understand ourselves. This is both sobering and comforting—sobering because nothing is hidden from Him, and comforting because He knows our weaknesses and still calls us to Himself.
God’s knowledge of the heart is always connected to His justice and mercy. He does not examine us to condemn us without hope, but to lead us toward repentance, transformation, and obedience. When we submit our hearts to Him, He reshapes our desires and aligns our will with His own. This is part of the sanctifying work that God performs in the life of every believer.
Beloved brother in Christ, it is important that we keep in mind the need to take care of every step we take. The Christian life is not lived on autopilot. It requires vigilance, prayer, and dependence on God. Each decision, whether large or small, should be brought before the Lord, asking for His guidance and wisdom.
Let us ask God to give us wisdom and to guard our heart and mind. Wisdom from God protects us from deception and leads us in paths of righteousness. When we pray for wisdom, God promises to give it generously to those who ask in faith. This wisdom helps us discern between truth and error, between what pleases God and what only satisfies the flesh.
We must always be aware that only our God truly knows our heart. For this reason, we should ask Him daily to cleanse it, protect it, and keep it aligned with His truth. A heart that remains close to God is a heart that remains teachable, humble, and obedient.
May we learn from the warning given through Jeremiah and choose to trust in the Lord rather than in ourselves. May our decisions be guided by God’s wisdom, our hearts shaped by His Word, and our lives directed toward His glory. When we submit our hearts to Him, we walk securely, knowing that His ways are perfect and His guidance never fails.