Monday, March 21, 2011

Jesus, our Heavenly Cardiologist!

Although I am in the medical profession, you certainly don't have to be in the profession to understand the importance of the heart to the human body.  The heart is the life line- without it, well.....we'd all be in the grave! Quality of human life is determined greatly by the heart.  A unhealthy heart will affect our kidneys our lungs, every organ of our body!  We will lack energy for we will get out of breath just going up a flight of stairs!

We also have a spiritual heart, and we have the Great Physician who has given us specific instructions in taking care of this heart.  In Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV) we read:  "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life."

In our physical heart we have several vessels, all important.  If one of those gets clogged, the entire heart can face something very serious we all know as a "heart attack".

Our Spiritual heart is composed of our mind, will, and emotions.  It is important that we take care of all 3 of those areas.  If one gets into trouble, our spiritual heart will suffer.
That is why God tells us to guard our heart.  But what does that word "guard" mean- how do we "guard our heart"?

1.) A healthy diet- The government now requires food labels to give us information about how healthy that food product is.  We have all become familiar with "trans fat", HDL, LDL, etc and what they mean.  You may be one of those people at the grocery store who reads the label before buying the product. (I hope you are!) So it is with our spiritual heart- we must take in a healthy diet.  Through the books we read, the TV programs we watch, the movies we go to, it will affect our spiritual heart for good or for bad. Prayer must be a large part of our diet. And it must be a regular part of our diet!

2) Exercise- Exercise is important to keep my physical heart strong.  It is a muscle and it takes some work to maintain that muscle.  We have gyms all over the place and we probably frequent those gyms or exercise at home in order to maintain a healthy heart.  Our spiritual heart is also in need of exercise.  It is the exercise of reading the Word of God, church, and service to the Lord.

3.) Minimize stress- We can have a great diet and exercise program but every doctor will tell you that if you are that "type A" personality then you are putting your heart at risk. That is why you see a lot of lifestyle changes after a heart attack.  Folks are  forced into it after the fact.  Makes you wonder what would be different if they had  minimized stress in their life as a lifestyle- perhaps they wouldn't have had the heart attack.  Our spiritual heart is put at risk through the stress of unconfessed sin.  I want you to think of unconfessed sin as the plaque that gathers on the arteries of our physical heart.  As that plaque builds up it narrows the artery causing a decrease in blood flow.  At some point, it finally causes a heart attack.  Sin in our lives narrows the "artery" that allows the flow of fellowship and instruction from our Father.  If sin continues to go unchecked, it will occlude that line to our Heavenly Father and our spiritual heart will suffer.

King David understood this as he wrote in Psalm 32 (NKJV)

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity.  And in whose spirit is no deceit.  When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long.  For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer.  I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden.  I said "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,"  And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.  For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they shall not come near him.  You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

A physical heart attack is expensive.  It cost not only a lot of money, but it also costs  in worry in the patient and the family of the patient.  It has long term effects on our body and finances through drugs and check ups.  I have taken care of many patients who look back in regret that they did not care for their heart so that they could have avoided all that came with the heart attack.

A spiritual heart attack is also very costly.  It affects our relationships with family and friends.  It most of all affects our relationship with our Heavenly Father.  Sin can have long term effects.  I have counseled many women who look back in regret that they did not care for their spiritual heart and now face consequences that could have been avoided.

The prescription from our Heavenly Cardiologist
1.)  Healthy diet- Word of God, good worship music, healthy prayer time
2.) Exercise- Serve the King in your local church, witness to those around you who need to hear about Jesus
3.) Limit stress- Keep short accounts with God.  Confess your sins and turn from them.  If you fall, get back up!  Memorize Psalm 32 and heed its instruction.


Guard your heart!
To God be the glory