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Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"

What it is speaking to me:

I am the generation that grew up in what is considered "The Renaissance" of Disney animation. It kicked off with the Little Mermaid in 1989 and carried through the 90s to Tarzan in 1999. The Little Mermaid was a staple growing up, telling the story of a teenage mermaid who followed her heart despite her father's wishes and got a glorious happy ending. One of my generation's favorites growing up.

Watching it as a parent now, it hits a little different. If I were describing it now, it's a movie about a spoiled brat who ignores the advice of people who care about her, makes a deal with the devil, causing collateral damage to the people around her, essentially gets away with it, and is even rewarded for being an incredibly selfish person who learns almost no lessons along the way. Really great music though.

We are the generation who was taught through the Little Mermaid, and myriad other inputs from culture, that we should follow our hearts. The teaching was that our hearts are rarely — if ever — wrong, and if we just follow them, despite whatever obstacles arise, it will work out for the best.

The problem is Jeremiah 17 reminds us that our heart is "desperately wicked," and the verses above are David pleading with the Lord to test his heart because he knows he can't trust it. That's what makes this prayer from David a little uncomfortable to read sometimes. He's not asking God to confirm what he already suspects is true about himself. He's inviting God to look at what David himself can't — or worse, won't — see.

David isn't asking God to do this because he necessarily enjoys the process. He's asking because he knows the alternative is worse. A heart that never gets checked by God doesn't stay neutral. It hardens. It gets better at justifying itself. It gets worse at telling the truth — even to itself. Eventually, you end up with a person who is completely convinced they are acting with integrity, while being completely wrong.

The clue to avoiding this terrible outcome is in how the verses end: lead me. Ariel from the Little Mermaid would tell you to "follow your heart." David (from the Bible) would tell you to be led by the Lord...not your heart. One leads to a monster, the other to life everlasting.

What is it saying to you?

Where have you been following your own heart lately?

What choice have you quietly labeled "wisdom" that might actually just be self-interest wearing a blazer?

When is the last time you asked God to search your heart?

What are we going to do about it?

Identify a choice you made recently that felt "right" but may have been driven by self-interest found in following your heart, and correct it.