How can we identify when our hearts turn away from the Lord? The Problem God Names in Jeremiah 17:5 “Thus says the LORD: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes the flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD.’” Key Phrases That Unmask a Wandering Heart • “trusts in mankind” – confidence migrates from God to merely human sources • “makes the flesh his strength” – we look to our own ability, resources or intellect first • “turns his heart from the LORD” – affection and allegiance quietly pivot away from Him Everyday Indicators We’re Slipping Into Self-Reliance • Prayer feels optional; planning and problem-solving dominate • Bible reading becomes irregular, replaced by newsfeeds or advice columns • Success breeds pride rather than gratitude (cf. Deuteronomy 8:17-18) • Fear or anxiety spike when human supports wobble (cf. Psalm 20:7) • Moral compromises feel justifiable because “everyone does it” • Words like “I can fix this” outnumber “Lord, lead me” Scripture’s Diagnostic Tests 1. Where is my trust? • Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart… do not lean on your own understanding.” • If leaning on insight alone, the heart is drifting. 2. Where is my treasure? • Matthew 6:21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” • Bank statements and calendars reveal loyalties. 3. Where is my delight? • Psalm 1:2 – The blessed one’s “delight is in the law of the LORD.” • Loss of delight in God’s Word signals a cooling heart. 4. Where is my resilience? • 2 Chronicles 16:9 – “The eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to show Himself strong to those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him.” • Reliance on His strength, not flesh, marks a heart still turned toward Him. 5. Where is my sensitivity? • Hebrews 3:12-13 – “Take care… that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” • Repeated sin without conviction is a loud warning. Practical Steps to Reverse the Drift • Confess any self-reliance (1 John 1:9) • Re-establish daily, unhurried time in Scripture and prayer • Invite mature believers to speak truth into blind spots (Hebrews 10:24-25) • Redirect resources—time, talent, finances—toward kingdom priorities • Choose obedience in small things; trust grows through practiced submission • Celebrate God’s faithfulness out loud; gratitude re-anchors the heart The Invitation Jeremiah immediately follows the curse (17:5) with the contrasting blessing (17:7-8). The Lord’s purpose is not condemnation for its own sake but rescue. When we notice these telltale signs and return our trust to Him, we move from withering shrub to well-watered tree—“its leaves are always green.” The heart that stays close to the Lord stays alive. |
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