Break Bad Habits

Build Better Ones

Become Better Men

 - Nate Whitson -

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" - Jeremiah 17:9

For many years, I've heard this Bible passage preached and used to point out that we shouldn't trust our heart (or our gut) because it's untrustworthy and flat out bad.

That said, I believe the Bible is God's Word and inspired from front-to-back.

No errors.

No mistakes.

No question about it.

However, our interpretations of passages like this one are not inspired and it's possible, then, that sometimes we may be misunderstanding or misusing this famous passage at times.

Here's my point: 

As a Habits & Behavioral Change Coach for Christian men, I think the misuse of this verse may be hurting men who are wanting to change but feel powerless to do so.

Here's what I mean (in the simplest terms I can think of):

When a man is not a true follower of Jesus and he has not yet submitted to Him as Lord, his heart has not (yet) been changed.

In this case, I believe the passage in Jeremiah is speaking to this man (and all people who have not be saved).  His heart, in fact, is deceitful as Scriptures point out.  It has not been changed.

However (and you probably see where I'm going with this already), what happens at the point of salvation?

A few key things:

• Eze. 36:26 - "...I will give you a new heart and I will put a new spirit in you"
• 2 Cor. 5:17 - "...anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person."
• Rom. 6:4 - "we're buried with Christ...we live new lives..."
• Gal. 2:20 - "My old self has been crucified...Christ lives in me."

Here's the question I've been wrestling with for a long time (I talk about it in my podcast on episode #118 if you'd like to hear more):

Q: Is it possible that we're telling people something that WAS true but isn't NOW?

Q: If so...could that be why we're seeing so few men change?

I help men build better habits and behaviors and make it easier for change to occur through my Start Super Small System.  But one of the biggest obstacles to change is not knowing the truth.

Being told that your heart still sucks - even though you're in Christ - makes it harder for men to change.  That's my premise.

What do we need?  The Truth.

"The truth shall you free...", Jesus says in John 8:32.

The truth is this:

There is power in Jesus' name and since my heart has been made new (not the same old, deceitful, ugly one) and it is now a "tender, responsive heart" (Ez.36:26), and I have new power to change my life that never existed before.

But the devil likes to pounce and make change harder for you.  He likes to take Scripture and twist it to his advantage and make it sound good.  

"Your heart is still bad.  In fact, you are still bad.  The truth is this: you'll never be able to change or get rid of this (fill in the blank issue or sin)."

That's what he tells us.

That's the message the enemy of our hearts speaks and we're all too willing to listen and believe Him over the voice of truth.

Are you perfect?  No.

Do your thoughts need to be captured and made obedient to Christ daily? Yes.

Is your heart deceitful and desperately wicked even though it's been made new and Christ now lives in you?

I don't think so.

And believing that truth may be the key to setting you free!

Nate

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P.S.

You don’t have to wait for “someday” to feel like a new man.

The Start Super Small System gives you one simple step to take—today that can change everything.

That’s all it takes to start shifting momentum and living like the man you (and God) really want to be.

If you're hoping to change but don't know where to start - click here to learn more.