Heart
Valentine heart checkup
Around Valentine’s day we see little red hearts everywhere, a day set aside to celebrate love. But why a heart as a symbol of love?
- “He sure has a heart for that” - passion and courage
- “From the bottom of my heart”
- “Make sure your heart is in the right place”
- “She stole my heart”
- “I fell in love with you heart and soul” as in chopsticks on the piano
- “In your heart you know it is true”
- “He had a change of heart”
- “The child won everyone's heart”
- “They went right to the heart of the matter"
So when God set up the conditions for man to have a relationship with Him, he started with, “Thou shalt love the Lord your God with all your heart…”
Not “You shall have a working knowledge of God”
Not “You shall set up some times to spend with God”
Not “You shall speak well of God to others”
You will love God with all your heart, from the core of your being, with courage and passion. Like a groom saying to his bride, “I give you my heart”
How the body and mind works.
There is an area in the middle of the brain known as the reticular activating system. It receives impulses from the cortex or upper part of the brain and filters the incoming sensations to what it would like more information about and blocks unwanted information. For example, you are thinking you need a new car and are thinking you might like a KIA. You go out on the road or pull into parking lots and you notice a KIA, then another KIA, here a KIA there a KIA, everywhere a KIA KIA. Those cars were always around but your brain was just not looking for them. It turns out, what you see and hear has more to do with what is going on in your head than what is going on around you. And what is going on in your head is determined by what is going on in your heart.
The heart is the core of who you are, the storage area of what really matters to you. Your heart drives your brain and focuses your thoughts. Your brain is where the action plans are put together of how you will satisfy the desires of your heart. Your senses and body parts are the connection to the real world where you carry out the plans that will get you the desires of your heart. So what you see and hear and what you do are controlled by what you believe and have passion about in your heart.
A storage area
The heart is a special storage area that keeps ideas front and center in your life.
My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity. Prov. 3:1
God’s commands are not a handy reference sheet stored in your mind for occasional reference when making plans or decisions. They are a way of life designed to keep you in a close loving relationship with God, hence stored in the drive center of your being.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart. Prov. 3:3
The sign of a healthy heart is one full of love and faithfulness, which defines and drives the desires of your heart. They are part of a security system that keeps you on the right track. It defines who you are and what you really believe in so that you can…
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight. Prov 3:12
Peaceful confidence and submission come from a trusting heart rather than using the probability of an event occurring calculated out by the brain. Rather it comes from your heart that has full confidence and trust in God.
When asked, “How does a person get saved?” The answer was always, “Ask Jesus into your heart.”
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. John 14:23
To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Mark 12:33
Notice it is a complete package involving the interaction of your passionate heart, your brain (understanding) as the thinking and planning function, and your body (strength) physically carrying out the thoughts, plans and intentions.
And the outcome of these parts focused on God and working in perfect harmony produces joy.
He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” Acts 14:17
So be encouraged, relax and take heart!
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matt 5:8
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Matthew 9:4
What about a hardened heart?
The physical heart can be in jeopardy because of hardened arteries. The hardened heart affects what your brain can process, like a one track mind. The heart can be so rigidly fixed on wrong ideas that it will only allow the brain to process what agrees with those false truths. The brain then filters what the senses are able to see or hear, The hardened heart can only see the false things they believe in a set rigid pattern.
This people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’Matthew 13:15
“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Matthew 15:8
For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. Matthew 15:19
But God, the great spiritual cardiologist, makes the final diagnosis of the heart.
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart. Prov 17:3
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him 2 Chron 16:9
I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. 1Chron 29:17
Does God take the primary place in your heart? The final diagnosis that can be made of your heart is by looking at the things you value, The things that mean the most to you, you are passionate about, just love to do,
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21
Jesus described this loving relationship with God with all your heart as being connected like a vine and branches that produces joy and peace.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 14:5
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 14:9
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6
In the heart of an old hymn,
Turn your heart upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will go strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
Where have all those KIAs gone?