24 hours

24 Hours

The heart of man is often referred to as the wellspring of life. From it flow feelings of love, thoughts that challenge us and emotions that can devastate us. Proverbs 4:23 says to 'Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.'

What if we could take 24 hours and peer into the depths of our heart. If we find anything that should not be there, we could remove it. Jealousy, gone. Malice, gone. Anger, gone. Dislike of others, gone. Sorrow, gone. Discouragement, gone. Doubt, gone. Depression, gone. What if it were just that simple? Well, in essence, it CAN be.

I started thinking about the heart because for a few weeks, I had been experiencing painful twinges in my chest. To be on the safe side because of past health issues and a family history of heart problems, I went to see my doctor. But, a stress test and cardiogram did not shed clear light on the problem. So, the doctor asked me to wear a heart monitor for 24 hours. Whenever I felt discomfort or anything out of the ordinary, I was to document on a form the time and what I was doing when I felt the discomfort.

Think about it. What if we acknowledged every time our heart was out of sync with God and His Will? Notice that I did not say ‘recognize’. We all recognize when we are feeling a way that is contrary to love or the way a Christian should feel. But we don't always acknowledge that feeling. We don't necessarily have to write those feelings down but we can lift our eyes right then and there and pray to God for forgiveness. Just like the things we say and do that are wrong, we are to pray and ask God to cleanse our hearts and minds of feelings that are wrong. I think we get so accustomed to feeling and thinking whatever comes to our heart and mind that we grow used to those feelings and thoughts.

Would it not be interesting and totally life changing to take 24 hours and inventory the feelings and emotions of our heart?

Well, the report from the heart monitor was good and very good. I am as fit as a fiddle. Thank God! It seems I have to watch spicy food and lay off the Texas Pete. Being a country girl, that is hard to do but I want to be pain free and good to my body so I will do as I should. In much the same way, I want to be good to my body spiritually. I am making an effort to reduce negative stress and put my faith to work more and more!

When negative thoughts and feelings arise, we have a choice to acknowledge them and repent or allow them to grow, rule and flow from our heart. For from our heart flows the issues of life.