Heart Healthy

I have had a lot of time to think about hearts lately. I am amazed at what all can be done to prolong the life of a heart. While at the hospital, I met a man waiting for his wife to have her new pacemaker implanted. He said it is a capsule not much bigger than my Omega 3 fish oil capsule! It's battery life is ten to 12 years! There is nothing to carry around. Another man was waiting for his wife to have a heart catheterization which I have watched and still think that is amazing. Another friend has just had a triple bypass and another person on my prayer list may be waiting for a heart transplant. It is amazing what medical science can do to make a healthier heart!

As I sat and talked to one of the gentleman who was waiting on his wife I felt so sorry for him. He was so nervous. After we had talked for a while he asked me about my husband and he nervously tried to tell me he would be ok. I told him I agree. I told him God was in control and He knows Mike better than the doctors. God would guide the doctors hands. Let me be clear. I said these things to put myself at ease. If I did not believe that God was in the room with Mike I would have been a wreck.

I got the feeling that the thought of Jesus seemed to scare my friend. Not that he did not believe but maybe Jesus represented death to him at a time like this. It was too scary for him to think about. Later he came in another empty waiting room and sat close to me and talked. I cannot get that man off of my mind. I have thought a lot about that man and what it really means to be heart healthy!

I am grateful for all of the medical opportunities we have for our hearts. They can give us better quality of life and can prolong our life. But what about getting our hearts healthy for all of eternity? Our time on earth is like a second compared to eternity. We need to repent and turn to God acknowledging that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. John 14: 6, "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'". We need to be still, and listening for that still small voice. We need to be studying God's Word. Matthew 6: 21, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." We need to remove the things that are a distraction from God such as sin. Proverbs 4: 23, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. We need to find our will in God's will. Romans 12: 2, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

We are heart healthy when we want a clean heart. Psalm 51: 10, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." We realize we are dependent on God. We know the Holy Spirit is always with us. We are given a peace that only comes from God. Philippians 4: 7, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

As we grow in Christ we become more sensitive to how the Holy Spirit is moving in our lives. Having a healthy heart helps us stay focused on what is important. When we make our hearts healthy we can go to church and truly worship because worship is the response of our heart. When times are tough we are able to lean on God and see how He is using hard times to bless us. Proverbs 3: 5, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding..." When we are able to trust this we become grateful for the hard times because we know we are growing in Christ. John 14; 27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." And we know that there will be many blessings coming from these hard times. These are just some of the advantages of living in Christ on earth..

And the best part? When our heart is healthy we can know that we will spend all of eternity with our Lord and Savior. Romans 10: 13, "for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" John 3; 16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Is it time for a check up on your heart?