Yesterday I wrote about the danger of following your heart, which by nature is sinful. But I shared that as believers in Christ, God gives us the new heart we need. A clean heart and a right spirit (Psalm 51:10). That is what our faith in Jesus does for us here and now.

Even more, He is constantly renewing our hearts through His Word and Sacraments. We listen to and meditate on His Word, which assures us of our salvation. Through Baptism God has put His name on us, washed away our sins, and brought us into His family. In the Lord’ Supper we receive His body and blood to assure that we share in His payment and His victory.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

This is the confidence in which we live. We have a new heart.

Anyone who has received a heart transplant is grateful – such a person has a new resolve in his or her life. It should be no different for believers who have received a spiritual heart transplant. There should be a resolve in our lives guided by the Spirit of God to live as His children, because that is what we are. Listen to these encouragements:

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

This message is too good to keep to ourselves.

Philippians 2:9–11 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We gladly bow before our Lord and willingly speak the Good News of what He has done.

Ephesians 2:8–10⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Our response to the undeserved love of God should be to live as the children He has made us, those who gladly and willingly live according to His will.

When you hear “Follow your heart,” remember that without Christ in your  life, your heart is sinful and goes against God. And your old sinful self will continue to try to go against what God would have you do. The only time “Follow your Heart” is good advice is when you follow that new heart and right spirit that God has placed in you. Rejoice in the forgiveness and life and salvation that you have in Christ. Live in the confidence you have as a redeemed child of God.