This post is 1 of a 6 part series on faith: 1) We have a Heart Problem, 2) Palm Sunday-The Love of Jesus, 3) Easter-Believing in Jesus, 4) What happens next?, 5) Being a New Believer, and 6) Patience in Growth

6 minute read 
by Bethany Rees

The Air Fryer That Died So I Could Write This

Let’s talk about first world problems.

You know the ones—like when your beloved air fryer goes up in a blaze of frozen chicken strip glory, setting off the smoke alarm and sending your dog into a full panic attack. Naturally, I told my family I needed a new air fryer for Mother’s Day. You know, for survival. Because without it, how else will I cook my chicken nuggies, roast veggies, and avoid actual cooking?

But the truth is... I don’t need an air fryer. That’s a first world problem. What I do need? A heart check.

The Real Problem: Our Divided Hearts

In our culture, we have an abundance of information, access, and comfort. We have apps that tell us how many steps we didn’t take today, videos teaching us how to fold a fitted sheet (still can’t do it), and planners for every niche lifestyle known to man.

We do not have a know-how problem.
We do not have a resources problem.
We do have a heart problem.

Our society tells us to "follow your heart," which sounds lovely on a coffee mug but can be spiritually disastrous. Because our hearts? They’re distracted. Divided. Deceitful.

We’re pulled in a thousand directions—toward self-promotion, self-comfort, self-righteousness (basically anything with “self” in it that’s not self-control). And let’s not forget the pressure to chase what the world says we should want: status, likes, more storage containers from The Home Edit.

But then there’s this soft, steady voice—the voice of the One who made our hearts—gently saying, “Follow Me.”

Same Old Heart Problem: Just Call Me an OT Israelite

While reading through the Bible (no, I didn’t do it in a year either, let’s not pretend), I kept noticing two words God repeatedly uses for His people: stiff-necked and heart.

“Stiff-necked” isn’t just bad posture; it’s full-blown spiritual resistance. Like the Israelites, who literally saw the Red Sea part and still made a golden cow to worship when Moses took too long on the mountain. (I’ve been annoyed when Amazon Prime took more than two days, so… I can’t judge too harshly.)

God kept pointing out their hardened hearts, even as He offered to give them new ones.  Hearts full of His Spirit.

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant…I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people…For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” ~ Jeremiah 31:31-34

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” ~ Ezekiel 36: 26-27

Jesus Came for the Inside Mess

From Old Testament deserts to New Testament dinners with the Pharisees, God never stopped caring about the status of our hearts. Jesus didn’t just come to clean up the outside of the cup—He came for the mess inside. The pride. The bitterness. The stubbornness. The “I’ve-got-this” attitude that quietly says, “Thanks God, but I’ve got a Pinterest board for that.”

“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” ~ Luke 6:45

“And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.” ~ Luke 11:39-41

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" ~ Matthew 23:37

A Better Heartbeat

The truth is, we don’t need more stuff, more noise, or even a new air fryer.

We need a new heart.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” ~ Jeremiah 17:9-10

May we be people who stop stiffening our necks and start softening our hearts. Who stop following the whims of culture and start following the steady lead of our Savior.

Because the real heart of the matter… is our heart.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ~ Matthew 6:21

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” ~ Psalm 51:10

Know Better. Do Better. Live Better. Soften Your Heart & Neck.

Rocks before Sand!

Scripture: 

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. ~ Psalm 51:10 

Theme Song:

Matt Redman - Heart of Worship (Lyric Video)

References Used:

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.