A few years ago, I had a heart attack. It wasn’t the kind that required an ambulance to meet me on the side of the road but one serious enough to leave me analyzing my life and relationships nevertheless.
By medical definition, a heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is blocked. The blockage is most often a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances, which form a plaque in the arteries that feed the heart.[1]
This seems like a fairly simple explanation. My heart was having problems that affected every other major area of my body. But why am I rehashing my medical trials in this blog post? I believe most pastors could use a heart check today.
The Heart of the Matter:
“We know that the condition of our natural heart is a matter of life and death for our bodies, however, the condition of our spiritual heart has eternal consequences.”
The Bible makes several references to the issues of our hearts. The Bible uses the importance of this essential organ as a picture of the state of our souls.
Let’s look at a few of these verses as we challenge ourselves to get a heart check.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10)
The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)
We know that the condition of our natural heart is a matter of life and death for our bodies, however, the condition of our spiritual heart has eternal consequences.
There has been tremendous conversation about the state of our souls as pastors leading the local church, caring for God’s people in the midst of so much uncertainty.
“Are you going through the motions knowing your heart is far from God? ”
We are living in a season where our hearts can become hard and calloused if we neglected the state of our souls.
When I had my heart episode, my physician stated the most important thing I could do to reverse the effects of my heart condition was to implement a regimen of rest, diet, and exercise.
Likewise, I find that a similar regimen can help us in ministry leadership ward off the effects of a spiritual, emotional, and mental breakdown that often comes from a hard heart. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 15:18, "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Imagine that, the possibility of giving God lip service. Are you going through the motions knowing your heart is far from God?
A Healthier Way to Be
Just as my physician prescribed a different course of action to reverse my heart condition, allow me to share with you a realistic regimen that can reverse the spiritual condition of a wayward heart.
1. Meet God every morning before you start your day.
This one practice when implemented will fuel the other healthy heart moves that will lead to spiritual renewal. Notice that Jesus had a habit of meeting with God early. The calming presence of God beats the chaos we are sure to face throughout the day.
In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.
Mark 1:35
2. Nourish your soul with the Word of God.
My physician was more than right. Since retirement, I had given myself to a diet of junk food. That stuff cluttered my arteries, stole oxygen from my blood, and often left me tired even before the day started.
We also need to nourish our souls on the Word of God. Who better than David the great king to give us a winning example!
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey than honey from the honeycomb.Psalm 19:7-10
3. Rest in Jesus.
“What a joy it is to know that God offers us rest—not for a season but for a lifetime.”
The biggest key to my physical recovery was a season of rest. What a joy it is to know that God offers us rest—not for a season but for a lifetime. Rest is when we cease movement, we shut it down, we relax, and let go of the troubles of this life if only for a few hours.
As believers, we can hold on and access a great promise found only in Jesus’s abiding love and amazing gift of rest.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29
Beloved, as a recovering heart patient—both physically and spiritually, I’m praying you will get a heart check. I pray you make the necessary physical and spiritual adjustments to give you the rest, renewal, and refreshment your mind, body, and soul need.
Brant Lee is the Pastor of Higher Expectations Community Church and serves on the African American Ministry Team at Union Baptist Association. He holds a Master’s in Theology from Liberty University and served 23 years in the military in various roles before retiring in 2011.
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