Max Lucado said, “You change your life by changing your heart.” There is so much truth in that statement. The heart is a window into our very being, our soul. The heart brings life to our physical body and in so many ways represent who we are inside. It is impossible to be happy with a cold, dark, and unsatisfied heart.

I have recently had some health issues. Shortness of breath and chest pains, all of which I contributed to my asthma. My doctor ran an EKG and then ordered a stress test. Within two hours of my stress test I was referred to a cardiologist for an appointment the following day. The diagnosis, stage 3 congestive heart failure! What?!!!  I am pretty healthy, in my mid 50’s, never smoked or did drugs and I only drink on occasion. I exercise regularly and I try to eat well. How did this happen? Well, the doctor has concluded that when I was infected with that dreaded virus, Covid, it attacked my heart and has weakened it significantly. The good news is that this is reversable and with medication and some lifestyle changes, I will be fine.

This recent health scare has focused my attention on the heart, for obvious reasons. The heart is so important, and you don’t know how much until yours isn’t working correctly. Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The heart truly is a representation of what we love and give our focus to. Do you seek fame, wealth, possessions? What is your heart’s greatest desire? Just as Covid attacked my physical heart, the ruler of our present age, Satan, will try to attack our spiritual heart. He will tempt us with all the trappings of this world. I urge you friend, to guard your heart from the distractions this world offers us and focus your attention on the eternal. Do not allow your heart to be stolen by the temporary!

This week I was thinking about that argument we hear from those who choose to live life according to their own rules. “God loves me just as I am. He wouldn’t have made me this way if he didn’t love me.” Another common and very false argument, “God is love. He won’t punish me for being my true self.” What audacity, that we think we can change who God is, to match our false sense of morality. Lunacy! God did not make us, so that He would serve us. We were created to serve Him. Our lives and our hearts should be focusing on how to please Him and bring glory to His name, not our own.

Satan will take everything that God has designed and flip it on its head. Just as he destroyed the perfection of the Garden of Eden by sowing doubt into the minds of Adam and Eve, he will try to sow pride, self-importance, greed, envy, and hate into our hearts. Admittedly, it isn’t that difficult because we are a fallen people, and we are already wicked in our core. We read in James 3:13-18, “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Our hearts are a mirror into who we are and what we seek and love. Look at the duplicity of this world. How many ways are we told to seek what makes us happy? NO! We are supposed to be living and seeking to make God, happy! He is our creator and Lord and everything in our lives should be pointing to Him. When our heart is sick and infected with this world, our lives will surely reflect that. But, if we turn our hearts to Him, and seek His ways, we will bring glory to Him, and our lives and heart will be stronger for it. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.” Proverbs 3:5-7