Follow Your _________!

“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’” — Matthew 22:37

Fill in the blank: Follow your _________!

For many, the answer would naturally be your heart. We live in a world that encourages us to follow our hearts. Be true to yourself. Trust your gut. Do what you feel you should do.

Let me ask you, how’s that working out for you? It has never worked very well for me. In fact, that logic is what has placed me in some of the worst circumstances of my life.

The heart of a person is their core. It encompasses their emotions, perspectives, thinking patterns and will. It is who we are in and of ourselves. Do you see the problem?

Jeremiah 17:9 tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things. / And desperately wicked; / Who can know it?”

The problem is man’s heart is shaped by the world in which we live. Morals change. Ethics change. What was acceptable fifty years ago is repulsive now. And what was repulsive is now accepted. We, whether we admit it or not, are shaped by the world in which we live to some degree. Some less, some more, but all are skewed.

Jesus never told us to follow our hearts!

In fact, He said the exact opposite. He told the Pharisee lawyer, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38)

Think about it a minute. Don’t gloss over it because it is a familiar verse. What Jesus is saying is all encompassing. He is telling us to bring our hearts into subjection to Him. To put our souls into His hands. And to be renewed in the way we think.

Jesus’ simple call to all is, “Follow Me!”

Ezekiel 36:26-27 prophesied how our hearts and souls move from death (stone) to life, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”

And Paul shows how the inward change is lived out, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be confirmed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you my prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)

In other words:

1. Don’t follow your heart! Follow your LORD!

2. Be born again in your soul and come alive to who He created you to be.

3. And be transformed in the way you live by renewing your mind.

We were never meant to live in and of ourselves. We were not created to follow our heart. Our hearts, souls and minds were created to be directed by our Savior.

Lord, I pray this day that you would show me the areas of my life where I am following my own heart. Give me the strength and courage to trust You to live through me; to lead my heart and soul and mind in those moments. Amen.

© 2025 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.

Listen, Speak, Act...Become!

“Those who make them are like them;
So is everyone who trusts in them.”
— Psalm 115:8

How do you see God? The one thing I know for certain, however you imagine God, in the words of J. B. Phillips, “Your God is too small!” No one can ever fully grasp His greatness.

Unfortunately, many of us are more comfortable with a small God. We like Him to be well defined, distant, safe and predictable. We will deny this, but our actions speak volumes.

We don’t expect to hear from God, we would rather listen to the preacher. We don’t expect Him to act in our lives, we are the only hands and feet He has, right? We don’t expect Him to speak through us, we just try to speak nicely on His behalf. We want to manage our walk with Him so it is safe, predictable, explainable, practical and fits our schedule.

Many of us, at least at times, have turned God into an idol. Few themes are dealt with more than idolatry in the Bible. David writes in Psalm 115:4-7, “Their idols are silver and gold. / The work of men’s hands. / They have mouths, but they do not speak; / Eyes they have, but they do not see; / They have ears, but they do not hear; / Noses they have, but do not smell; / They have hands, but they do not handle; / Feet they have, but they do not walk;…”

Tell me, is this not how we often imagine God? That He no longer listens, speaks, acts or walks among us? I fear it is all to often the case. There are countless stories of how we are the only hands God has on earth. How God needs us to complete His work. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Psalm 115:3 begins by stating, “But our God is in heaven; / He does whatever He pleases.” This is echoed throughout the Bible. God does not need us to do anything. As Acts 17:25, when Paul is confronting the Athenians about their idols, says, “Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.”

It is easier… no, it is safer to see God as a distant force separated from us who just provides moral direction. Yet, this creates an image of God created by man and disconnected from truth; an idol.

The result of seeing God as one who doesn’t listen, speak or act in our lives is dire. As David concludes the stanza in Psalm 115:8, “Those who make them are like them; / So is everyone who trusts in them.” When we see God in such a way, we become like that image. Unable to listen, speak or act in the world as we were created to do so.

The fact is, God doesn’t need you! You need Him! He can effectively carry out His work without us, but He chooses us. Not for His benefit, but for ours.

As 2 Corinthians 6:16 says, “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them / And walk among them. / I will be their God, / And they shall be My people.’”

He is the living Lord, who lives in us and desires to work through us. If He is not working through your life today, then your God is too small. “…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) God working through you is not for His benefit, but for yours. It is how He teaches you who he created you to be. “And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)

History has shown that people will readily give up freedom in exchange for safety. It is easier and more comfortable. Yet, history also shows that those who exchange freedom for safety eventually lose both. Which is why the Bible says over 30 times “fear not” and over 30 times to be courageous.

So, FEAR NOT! Be strong and courageous! Bring your eyes, ears, mouth, hands and feet (the entirety of your being) before the living Lord and ask Him to live through you today! I think you will find He is much greater than anything you’ve ever imagined; and I think you will find that you were created for greater things in Him as well.

© 2025 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.

The Perfect Circle of God's Will

“For we are His workmanship [masterpiece], created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” — Ephesians 2:10

The artist Giotto is considered by many to be the first genius of the Italian Renaissance. In the early 14th century, Pope Benedict XI was looking for someone to create the frescoes in Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. He sent out a courtier to collect works of art from notable artist to chose who would receive the commission. Artist after artist sent the Pope their best masterpiece, but not Giotto.

When the courtier visited Giotto’s studio in Florence and asked for a work to demonstrate his skill, Giotto did not pull out a masterpiece. Rather, he took a blank canvas, dipped his brush in red paint, pinned his arm to his side and drew a perfect circle on the canvas.

The courtier felt mocked. He asked for another work to show the Pope. However, Giotto replied, “This is enough, and more than enough.”

The Pope realized his skill and mastery from a perfect circle drawn freehand. Giotto showed that greatness is found in the smallest details. Mastering the simple. For a masterpiece is nothing but simple brushstrokes perfectly executed in concert.

I have always disliked this story. Mainly because I have tried for years to draw a perfect circle and can’t! While the simple things create a masterpiece, I would rather create a vast canvas of a complicated work where I can hide my mistakes and lack of skill. But it is the execution of a simple object that shows an artist’s worth; or lack of skill.

The same is true in life. We want to parade our perfectly manicured image around. Share our social posts that confirm we are doing great. Yet, the truth is seen in the simple. The moments when no one is looking. The parts of our life we don’t catch on camera and share. The times we would rather hide. And our circle is not perfect.

God cares about every moment of our lives. He has the hairs on your head numbered. He knows your thoughts and feelings. He knows what you have done, or not done. He knows what is true and what is a lie. And He cares about every single millisecond of your life. He wants every moment to be a part of the perfect circle He has drawn for your life.

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” It is not your job to draw a circle of perfection in your life. It is His circle (path) that is perfect. He just desires for you to join Him. And the most important moment to join Him is right now! It is not about the monumental points in our life. It is not about the major decisions. The masterpiece is found in the simple, moment-by-moment decisions we make all day long. And the question is: will we join Him in this moment?

If we are willing to join Him in this moment (and the next, and the next…), the major moments in our life will be no problem. It is in the simple we master the skill of joining our Lord in the work He desires to work through our lives.

Jesus said in Luke 16:10, “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”

It is the simple that matters. In every moment we have a choice. We can walk in the perfect circle of God’s will, or we can walk it alone. The masterpiece is found in the perfect circle of God’s will. And we will find that we do not struggle nearly as much with the major decisions in life if we choose well in the simple.

Today, the canvas is blank. What will we choose to show as our masterpiece? If we choose God in this moment, I know we will be able to say with Giotto, “This is enough, and more than enough.”

© 2025 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.

I'm A Failure, Again!

“My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart
And my portion forever.”
— Psalm 73:26

Currently, I’m sitting in a hotel room in Midland, TX. I thought tonight was to be a moment of reflection and preparation for a leadership camp that would begin tomorrow. However, I discovered in route (too far away to do anything about it) that it began today. I missed the first day. I failed my team. I was assuming this year was the same as the past 8 years and I was wrong. I failed. And there was nothing I could do to fix it.

Fortunately, I have a great team. They were able to work through the problem (of ME) and make it work. I’m working on adjusting the schedule to get all the main topics in tomorrow and make the camp the best it can be in spite of me.

Failure is a part of human life. One I hate, but often endure. I am physically sick to my stomach and ill from stress on letting others down. I have missed less than a handful of speaking engagements in over 30 years. Yet, I can remember every single one of them, vividly. They haunt me! They terrify me to the point I most often show up hours early to engagements to make sure I don’t miss them.

Failure is statistically one of the top two greatest fears people face in the corporate world. The other being public speaking. I fear both. I fail at both. I fail at most things. Yet, I never quit. I never stop trying.

“But God is the strength of my heart / and my portion forever.”

I often ask audiences to play a game with me; the opposite game. I give them a word and ask them to give me the opposite. I’ll say, “Up”. They say, “Down”. On and on we go until I say, “Success”. They always say, “Failure”. Then, I say, “Wrong”. They say, “Right”. And I say, “No! I’m telling you, you are wrong! The opposite of success is not failure.”

Successful people fail at a much higher rate than unsuccessful people. Just read a biography of any successful person in history. They just don’t quit. They keep trying. They keep pushing on until they get it right.

The opposite of success is when we settle. It is when we come to the point we quit trying. When we say, “This is as good as it is going to get. I’m done.” That is when we have done the opposite of success.

Galatians 6:9 encourages us, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

This is for all the failures out there and I am one of you. I have failed often. I have failed in this moment to show up when requested. I have failed my family. I have failed at my job. I have failed my friends. I have failed in so many ways. Yet, “God is the strength of my heart,” and I desire to share that strength today.

For me in this moment, it means changing a schedule and maximizing my time tomorrow. For my family, it means changing priorities to maximize my time with each of them. For my job, it means changing my focus to capitalize on opportunities. However, if I’m honest, I don’t fear failure. I fear more than anything else succeeding at something that doesn’t matter.

Failure is not the end. It just is what it is until it isn’t. And the only way we can change what it is, is if we never quit. Trust in the Lord for your strength. Cast your cares upon him. Do not fixate on the failures in life, but look towards the future and allow Christ to work through you!

“…but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

Wherever you are today… Whatever the failure you have experienced… No matter how much you feel you are lacking in ability, talent, character, presence or position… GET UP AND RUN!

Reach for the goal! God will be the strength of your heart! Never settle. Never quit! Act today on the upward call of God in Christ Jesus!

© 2025 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.

I Love Us!

“We love Him because He first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19

I love us!

Yesterday, I attended the funeral of a man I definitely counted as a friend. He was always joyful, supportive and so much more. It is not often you attend a funeral and walk away with a theological lesson. Yet, with Tim Hellman, crazier things have happened.

The priest shared that Tim and his wife taught him about “loving us.” They didn’t say to each other, “I love you.” Rather they always said, “I love us.” I found this to be profound.

What is it we love in another, especially our spouse. On the surface, we certainly love who they are, how they look, what they do, and how they add to our life. However, Tim found the true nugget of truth. It is in the relationship. It is in what makes two individuals an “us”.

I pondered all day on this. I realized that what I love most about my wife is us. The relationship we have. I love her beauty (she is amazing). I love her kind and gentle spirit. I love the massive amounts of grace and mercy she showers on everyone. I love her willingness to step out of her comfort zone and follow this crazy man. But most of all, I love us! I love who we are together. I love the relationship.

As the Good Book tells us in Mark 10:8, “…’and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.” It is a principle I have often referenced, but haven’t put into practice in my language. What we say matters. It is important to love others. However, saying, “I love you” acknowledges you are outside of me; separate. “I love us” is togetherness, relationship; two becoming one.

Jesus spoke of this in John 14. He begins verses 10 & 11 with a question, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? … Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me…”. He is establishing the relationship. God the Father. God the Son. The two are one. Us.

But He doesn’t stop there. He goes on in verse 20 talking about becoming a Christian and receiving the Holy Spirit and says, “At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” A relationship. Us.

How many lives would be lived differently if we understood that relationship. If we walked through the day as us, rather than walking as ourselves. If we loved us, rather than loving something outside of ourselves and separate. I believe God loves us. And we should love us too.

How many marriages would be lived differently if we saw it more clearly as two becoming one; us? To live and walk as us? How would it change our viewpoint to love the relationship more than the individual? What grace, mercy and forgiveness would we extend to us, that we might not extend to them?

I learned much from my short time with Tim. Yesterday, as I said goodbye to him for now, he had one last lesson for me: I love us!

When it comes to my Lord and Savior, I love us! When it comes to my wife, I love us! When it comes to my children and grandchildren, I love us! When it comes to my friends, I love us! When it comes to you dear reader, know this, I love us! And I pray in each case that God would teach me to focus on and grow the relationship; us. To walk through life everyday, not as an individual, but as us.

I love us! Thank you Tim!

© 2025 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.