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The pulse on the monitor flat lines. A nurse charges the defibrillator and hands the paddles to the attending who yells, “clear!” The patient’s body comes up off the table with the force of the shock. The defibrillator is charged again. “Clear!” Another shock and then the monitoring equipment beeps. “Pulse ox is normal, pressure’s rising.”
She’s back.
One of my favorite TV dramas is the Emmy award winning ER. Millions of viewers tune in each week to watch the action at the best hospital in Chicago. I love the drama and the life and death the decisions. I love watching the Attendings so swift and sure in a crisis and the Med students fumbling to intubate in time.
My heart needs a jumpstart every now and then too. I only wish it were as easy as it looks on TV. Most of the patients at ER’s County General are instantly restored. I wish a quick jolt to the chest was all it took to make heart less selfish or to kill the roots of bitterness or unforgiveness in my heart.
Selfishness is a heart-stopper
Our Heavenly Father created a work of art when He designed our hearts. Each of the four valves is like a one-way door that keeps the blood in the heart flowing in the same direction. The opening and closing of the valves is controlled by blood pressure changes within each heart chamber. If just one valve is faulty, the heart won’t beat properly.
The Lord often shows me where I have faulty valves that get in the way of the proper functioning of my heart. Things like resentment, guilt, condemnation, unforgiveness, shame, selfishness, pride, judgment can all block His work in my heart.
I always notice a change in the condition of my heart when my prayers are filled with “help me’s” or “why me’s” or “change them’s”. So often I focus on prayers of petition rather than praises of thanksgiving. In the midst of the day to day “have to’s” I notice that when my eyes are not focused on my heavenly Father my gaze is selfish. My heart is ugly.
Monitoring my own heart
I’m thankful that God is patient with me in my growth process as I set my heart on Him.
He wants to lovingly spend time with me as I study His word and apply it to my life. He desires to be the heartbeat and keep me in step with the Spirit that He has placed in me.
The same God who created the earth and sky and teamed it with every kind of creature is the God who lovingly directs my heart toward Him. David shared the same sense of awe when he prayed,
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.” (Psalm 8: 3-5)
I’m reminded to come to God with a heart of praise and thanksgiving, in all things. Even in the midst of trials, I know that His hand and grace are on the details of my life. There’s nothing that He and I can’t handle together when I put my faith in Him.
I know that there is a battle for my heart, and the enemy of my soul would love nothing more than to condemn and destroy the home that it seeks. I have the power and authority through the blood of Christ to conquer and succeed in that battle.
A joyful heart is good medicine
How do I do that? One of the best ways to keep in step with His Spirit is through praise of our mighty and holy God. King David was great at that. What I love about David is that his heart cried out to God. From moments of desperation and agony to moments of victory and jubilation, David held nothing back.
It’s amazing the work that God can do in my life when my heart is willing to respond to Him. It may be an impression He leaves on my heart or a gentle nudge of conviction He whispers to bring me back to Him. It may be His Word that reminds me to walk in His truth.
Moments of glory are in my midst everyday when I choose to set my heart on Him. Through the resurrection of His Son and my Savior, He grants me a great Counselor and Comforter to keep my heartbeat continually in step with His will for my life.
I simply have to breathe in His truth, meditate on His word, and pray for my heart to be yielded to His. This truly breathes life into my soul.
Related Reading:
Hitting rock bottom
Discover the Spirit-Filled life
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