Answering God from the heart

Mark 11:31-32  "They discussed it among themselves and said, 'If we say, 'From Heaven', He will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'  But if we say, 'From men'...' (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)"

In reply to a trick question, Jesus asked the chief priests and teachers of the law whether John the Baptist's baptism was from Heaven or from men.  The verses above show the calculation of their potential responses, which caused them to answer "I don't know".  An insincere question may deserve an insincere response.

But what about when God speaks to us?  When He puts something on our hearts, no doubt it is sincere.  But is our response sincere?  Or do we turn His prompting into an intellectual exercise of weighing the possible responses and their respective costs, and then providing a response based on human reasoning?

God examines our heart and is most interested in honesty and transparency about what is in our heart.  We can use our brains to decide what the right answer is, but if it differs from what is in our heart, God is not fooled.  Answer God from your heart, and pray that He will conform your heart to His.