As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. Proverbs 27:19
Millions of people suffer from heart failure each year. Often the symptoms are ignored until such a critical level is reached drastic action is the only solution. Records indicate that in addition to untold surgeries, over 600,000 pacemakers are implanted across the world each year.
There are different types of pacemakers but they all serve as mini-generators for the heart. Monitoring its electrical system, they provide the needed electrical signal when the heart doesn’t. Yet they don’t last indefinitely. The battery within a pacemaker has an average life span of 7-15 years, necessitating surgical replacement.
You may never suffer from physical heart failure but each of us is born with a defective heart. Our spiritual heart fails to operate correctly when God is missing from our life. Instead of the light it was created to produce it creates darkness. From a defective heart comes “evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.” (Mark 7:21-22)
In essence, when we accept Christ as Savior, we undergo a sanctified surgery where God implants a spiritual pacemaker in us. It provides the sinless impulses needed for true life when our natural heart doesn’t. Its power source must be renewed, just as with a regular pacemaker, but much more frequently. In order to work optimally, it needs to be plugged into Him each day.
The more of His power residing in us, the better our heart operates out of love. The longer we go without Him, the more our spiritual heart is damaged by the misuse of the sin inside. If you have never accepted Christ as Savior, that is the first place to start. Without him, your death from heart disease is certain.
Even after salvation, the defective heart still remains within us. Our pacemaker is but a temporary tool—our hearts must be regularly monitored for signs of a problem. And just as many people overlook early signs of a physical heart problem, as Christians we too can overlook early symptoms of a spiritual heart problem if we don’t know what to watch for. The word of God teaches us seven signs of heart trouble in the book of Proverbs.
Lacks Faith:
A healthy spiritual heart is full of faith. It believes God and his word. When we lack faith, we are relying on ourselves and the world for answers instead of the One who has all the answers.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Shortage of Joy:
A joyful heart is a certain sign that God is sitting on the throne of our lives. When we, who have received the best gift of all, are joyless, we reveal an unhealthy heart. This doesn’t mean we don’t mourn or feel sadness, but instead know that the present suffering doesn’t compare with our future promise. Happiness comes from happenstance, but joy comes from God.
“For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.” Proverbs 15:15
Dissatisfied Attitude
A healthy heart is content with whatever God is giving them today or calling them to or walking them through. It doesn’t mean that we don’t have desires, just that we trust His bigger picture.
“A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer to the bones.” Proverbs 14:30
Resents Obedience:
A heart that willing obeys God is a healthy heart. It has confidence that His way is intended to give us life, never to harm us.
“My father taught me, ‘Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live’.” Proverbs 4:4
Prideful Spirit
Pride is a certain sign that our heart is operating defectively. Pride places us above the Creator, but a healthy spiritual heart embraces the proper order of things.
“Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin.” Proverbs 21:4
Creates Conflict
Striving to live in peace and to avoid creating needless conflict is a sign of a healthy heart. When we fault-find and stir up trouble, we are operating out of our defective heart.
“Their perverted hearts plot evil, and they constantly stir up trouble.” Proverbs 6:14
Speaks Harshly
Gentle words and tones come from a healthy heart, but harsh words and actions come from our diseased flesh. A healthy heart uses words to build others up, whereas a damaged heart seeks to destroy.
“The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.” Proverbs 16:21
Any one of the seven signs indicates your spiritual pacemaker is dry and your life is operating out of your defective heart. Should you see one, don’t wait. That very moment is when you need to renew your heart by plugging into the Power Source.
Message for the Journey:
Heart disease is rampant in the world today as each one of us is born with a damaged heart. Our disease impacts our own life as well as that of everyone we interact with. But as a Christ-follower, you don’t have to live that way any longer. You’ve been given a spiritual pacemaker to correct your defective heart. Yet it doesn’t work alone; it operates solely on God’s power. Plugging in all-day everyday is the only way to function out of a healthy heart and to stop causing further damage.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23
©AnnWilds2011
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