Heart Attack....Spiritually Speaking

So, our ladies at church recently started exercising together in an effort to strengthen our bodies for His service. We meet twice a week for an intense 45-minute workout and leave totally drenched for our efforts. Although I enjoy the fellowship and the challenge, I still struggle with commitment. Most days I leave our time together wondering, "Why in the world do I do this to myself??!!? I still look the same as when I walked in here tonight, except now I need a shower!" I can become pretty discouraged with the lack of visible results, and decide it's a waste of time. But, lately I've been thinking. Although this particular effort focuses on the physical man, I think it may just apply to the spiritual man, too.

The Bible talks a lot about the health of our heart. Oh, it mentions our physical bodies for sure, but a great deal of time is spent addressing the issue of our spiritual being....specifically, the heart. In the Psalms, I've noticed over and over again the condition the writer finds himself in as he pours his heart out before the Lord. In today's passage we read David asking, "give me an undivided heart to fear Your Name. I will praise You...with all my heart..." It seems to me, that God seems very concerned with the condition of our inner man, our heart issues. Issues that include the mind, the soul, the will, the nature, and our emotions to name a few. Some phrases that come to mind are, "guard your heart, the wellspring of life....man looks at outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.....the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked.....a stubborn generation that did not prepare its heart....my heart is fixed on You."

God is trying to tell us something. Keeping your heart healthy requires WORK! It requires lots of intentional work, or you will be led astray. Our heart needs to be guarded from spiritual attack. Our heart needs to be purified and renewed. The heart needs to be spilled out....to be emptied of all burdens and cast them all at His feet. Our heart needs to be centered and focused on things of eternity. Our heart needs to be encouraged and comforted. Our hearts need to be prepared. Can I say that "keeping your heart" sometimes requires a bit of open-heart surgery??? Is that a bit scary? Not when you know the great Physician.

Heart Attacks occur.....physically, but also spiritually. I've read that issues of the human heart is the leading cause of physical death in our country, surpassing cancer and other diseases, car wrecks and violence. A sedentary lifestyle, with no exercise significantly increases chances of heart attack. I have committed to keep my heart healthy for as long as God allows, even though I can't always see the results. Something tells me it's working....small changes....a little more stamina......on the outside. The human heart also happens to be the cause of spiritual death. An unbelieving heart, that is. Our hearts cannot be trusted on their own. We are born with a sin nature. We must work at keeping our own heart spiritually healthy. A sedentary lifestyle, with no exercise significantly increases chances of spiritual heart attack. I asked the Lord to show me ways that I can keep my spiritual heart healthy. He has sometimes shown me things I should do, as well as things I shouldn't do. I don't always notice a change right after praying or singing or reading or serving, but I will not quit. Something tells me it's working....little by little.....I'm noticing a change......on the inside. But He's still working on me.

Jesus was asked, "Which of these is the greatest commandment?" And Jesus replied,

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."