I have been diagnosed with heart failure, specifically, HFrEF and Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. A lot of big and confusing words that mean my heart is weak and isn’t pumping enough blood. This has caused me to experience shortness of breath, weight gain, and a persistent cough. It is a battle, and unfortunately, a battle that I have found myself facing. Proverbs 4:23 tells us,

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

 I can tell you that as I navigate this diagnosis, and the physical limitations I am experiencing, I must be constantly alert! I must watch what I eat. I must track my blood pressure and my weight. Gone are the days when I could eat what I wanted and believe that I would live forever! Now that I am older, the ramifications of how I treat my body have become very obvious. The left ventricle of my heart is weakened and is not able to squeeze, thus cannot send as much oxygenated blood to the tissues throughout my body. I didn’t give much thought to the health or function of my heart, until I was diagnosed.

What does it mean to “guard your heart”? As I navigate life with heart failure, my choices carry real consequences. I must eat healthy, limit my salt and sugar. I must take my medication faithfully, monitor my blood pressure and weight. I must exercise so I don’t cause my heart to weaken further. I don’t want my heart failure to get worse. There isn’t a lot of room here for denial.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, it is just as important to be vigilant on what I put in my mind and soul. Filling it with the influences of this dark and lost world will not strengthen my heart, but will cause it to be filled with anxiety and fear. I am careful what kind of music I listen to, the types of tv shows and movies I watch, and the influencers I listen to on social media. I make a conscious effort to focus on the truth of God’s word, especially as the world is rushing away from His truth. Just as the heart is a muscle that grows stronger with exercise, our mind and soul will strengthen through the truth of God’s word.

The wise of heart will receive commandments,

but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
Proverbs 10:8

I am in a battle for my heart, both in the physical realm and in the spiritual realm.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that
they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John 10:10

The fears and uncertainty of today – and tomorrow— can
leave me breathless! As I focus on the health of my heart, I realize that every
breath I take, every beat of my heart, is dependent on Christ. I must fill my
heart with the truth of God’s word. I must listen for His wisdom, through the
Holy Spirit and I must not focus on the darkness of my circumstances, but on
the hope that I have in Christ.

This month I spent several days attending the Gospel Coalition
women’s conference in Indianapolis. It was amazing! Nearly 9,000 women in
attendance and another 9,000 watching on live stream, together, opening our
hearts to God’s word and praising Him in worship. As we were working through the I AM passages of Jesus, Ruth Chou Simons, taught the portion from the Gospel of John, Chapter 6. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  Just as my heart pumps the blood through my body, Jesus pumps hope through my life. I don’t know how I would be able to face this diagnosis without the knowledge of who He is. As Ruth Chou Simons shared, “My troubles do not determine my reality.” I may be facing uncertainty with my physical health, but my salvation in Christ Jesus is solid! My heart may be weak but the strength of the God I serve is not!

Whatever comes your way today, or tomorrow, guard your heart! Do not allow the enemy to steal your joy. Strengthen your heart with the truth of who God is, and who you are in Him. We may not understand the battle we are facing, but we can be strong in the God who is fighting for us!