Healthy Hearts Grow Healthy Relationships

Posted on Jul 09, 2020 Topic : Inspirational/Devotional, Men's Christian Living

“How's your heart?” This is the question Scott—my friend and brother in Christ—asked me almost every time we talked, which was often. Following a battle with cancer, Scott went to be with Jesus. I miss him, and selfishly, I need to hear his loving question: "Boyd, how is your heart?"

To me, Scott was a spiritual doctor who cared about my heart's condition. He knew the quality of my life depended on the health of my heart. He reminded me of my need for the Great Physician.

Today's key verse says everything flows from your heart—your hopes, your dreams, your fears, your anxieties, your anger, your forgiveness, your humility, your peace, your greed, your generosity, and your love. Yes, everything that makes you who you are is in your heart. So above all else, your heart needs a guard—and God is that guard.

When the Holy Spirit fills your heart by faith, He flushes out sin and leaves enough room for the Fruit of the Spirit. Only a heart guarded by God can bear the influence of ungodliness. A heart submitted to Christ in prayer is protected by Christ with peace.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." —Philippians 4:7, NIV

Unhealthy emotional heart conditions include:

Faintheartedness
Loss of heart
A broken heart
A foolish heart
A hard heart

The remedy for all these spiritual ailments is a whole heart for Jesus.

You may feel fainthearted today: weary in your faith and work. If so, take time to slow down, rest, and allow the Holy Spirit to restore your heart to wholeness.

A loss of heart is a reflection of hope deferred, which creates a sickly soul condition. But hope in Christ gives your heart peace and reassurance.

Perhaps your heart is broken by past hurt or present rejection. Seek your heavenly Father to be forgiven and to forgive.

Be on guard! A foolish heart forgets God or even stops believing God. Excessive worry can act like a form of atheism. When we are paralyzed by fear and anxiety, we sometimes behave as if God does not exist. So, we must guard against a foolish heart by gaining a heart of wisdom.

Most disturbing is a hard heart: someone jaded by injustice and/or the lack of integrity in others. Fortunately, through faith in Jesus a hard heart can be replaced by a heart born from above. A heart from the Lord gives us a heart for the Lord.

In honor of Scott, let me ask you, “How is your heart?” Grow an emotionally healthy heart so you are able to grow healthy relationships. Love Jesus and others with all your heart.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart.” —Mark 12:30

Heavenly Father, I ask that You would give me Your heart of love, grace, and forgiveness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.