Proverbs 4:23-27
Keep vigilant watch over your heart;
that’s where life starts.
Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth;
avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
Keep your eyes straight ahead;
ignore all sideshow distractions.
Watch your step,
and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
Look neither right nor left;
leave evil in the dust.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
For several years now, I have served as the neighborhood volunteer for the American Heart Association’s annual fund drive. I send information to each household in my neighborhood about heart disease and how to prevent it…and of course, a request for a donation to the American Heart Association to fund research and future treatments and cures is included. Each neighbor receives information about heart disease and how to prevent it. A statement is printed on the back of each neighbor’s envelope that states: “Regular, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity done for at least 30 minutes on most or all days of the week helps prevent heart and blood vessel disease. The more activity, the greater your benefits."
When I read these verses from Proverbs 4 about keeping vigilant watch over your heart, I immediately thought of this admonition from the American Heart Association. The information printed on the envelope refers to a person’s physical heart, while the verses in Proverbs refer to your thoughts, emotions, spirit and soul. And both need “vigorous activity – most or all days of the week”! Our physical heart needs 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day, such as some form of aerobic activity…a moderate diet that is high in fiber, lower in sugar, and calorie conscious…and a lifestyle that avoids smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and manages stress.
The “Spirit-filled heart” needs a completely different form of exercise…a careful avoidance of speaking unkindly, telling lies, and sharing gossip…a lifestyle that remains focused on our relationship with God and serving Him…an effort to stay alert to the devil’s attempts to trip us up and cause us to veer off course…and a steady diet of God’s word and communication with Him to make sure that we are continually operating in His will. Just as with the physical heart, the more activity and attention we give to our spiritual “heart health”, the greater our benefits!
A healthy heart is vital if we are to enjoy a happy, productive life…both physically and spiritually. Have you checked your “heart health” today? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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