Have You Done Your Daily Heart Check?
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. ~ Proverbs 4:23
The heart is one of several major vital organs in the body and is the main organ of the cardiovascular system. It pumps blood through a network of arteries and veins throughout the body. It’s plays a big role in our health and if it gets sick, our body will feel it. We must do everything possible to keep our heart healthy and strong by feeding ourselves proper nourishment, exercising, keeping our stress levels low, etc. If we fail to do so, the heart can get sick and we won’t be able to function properly or effectively and we could quite possibly die. The same goes spiritually.
In our program over the years, we always say “do a heart check to see where you are at. ” This means our members must take some time to be with the Lord to see how their heart is functioning. The result could mean their heart is good or they could be struggling with things like anger, jealousy, fear, bitterness, sexual immorality, unforgiveness, etc. This means they will have to change their diet from tv, movies, computers, and family or friend issues to spending more time with God, praying, surrendering, bible reading, and sometimes fasting. They must take action and responsibility for their flesh which is required of all of us.
It’s imperative that we guard our heart and keep it healthy and free from impurities. I have heard people say countless times “just go with your heart” or “do what your heart says”. This is the worst possible advice to give someone because the bible clearly tells us that the heart is deceitful!
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? ~ Jeremiah 17:9
In Mark 7:20-23 Jesus tells us that vile things comes out of the heart:
20 And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”
Many times we think we are doing ok when in fact we aren’t. Instead we are angry, bitter, envious, greedy, prideful, etc. We complain about our life or other people instead of being grateful. We spend more time looking at the negative aspects of life instead of focusing more on the positive. We enjoy our idols more than God.
So I ask you…have you done your heart check today?