Heart Check-Up

I recently went to the doctor for my “well check”. I routinely do this a couple times each year to make sure there is nothing weird going on with my body. The doctor always listens to my heart and lungs with a stethoscope to make sure all sounds clean and smooth. He encourages more exercise to keep my heart healthy. My heart is the most critical muscle in my body as it is responsible for pumping blood throughout my body to keep me alive. Heart health is really critical to my over-all health. My heart gets stronger when I get it moving at a healthy rate for at least 30 minutes per day.

The Hebrew writer talks about my heart health and goes back into the history of the people of God. When the people of Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry land, it was miraculous for sure. It wasn’t long after that event, that their hearts became “hard” as they complained against the Lord.  The Hebrew writer challenges me to check my heart. Check this out…

¹² Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. ¹³ You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. ¹⁴ For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. (Hebrews 3:12-14 NLT)

I know my heart well.

I know my thoughts.

I know what the Lord knows.

I know more me better than anyone else.

I know my weaknesses.

I know my strengths.

I know what it’s like to give it all to Jesus.

I know what it’s like to take things from Him too.

I know that my heart is healthiest when I daily surrender to Him and His Ways. I am working on that each day that I spend time with Him in His Word. Reading His Word forces me to look inside at my heart. When I’m in His Word, my heart is exposed and vulnerable to Him. This is a healthy exercise for my spiritual condition. My heart is hard when I sin. My heart is soft and supple when I confess and repent. My heart is full of pride when I try protecting myself against being exposed. This is exactly what the Hebrew writer is speaking against.

The Lord loves and open and shapeable heart. He can mold my heart and shape my character if I’m surrendered to Him. His work in my heart is complete only when this life is finished. The abundant life here is only available when I surrender all I am to Him. He can make a beautiful life out of my surrendered soul. My heart check-up is really a “surrender check”. I want to be faithful in my surrender to Him and His Way.

Pressing On!

Dwayne