SOUND HEART AND SOUND HEALTH

“A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones” – Proverbs 14:30

Close to concluding on the Covenants of Health and Healing, let’s meditate on a SOUND HEART and SOUND HEALTH: “A SOUND HEART is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones” (Pro.14:30). The state of the physical heart is crucial to overall health, being the organ that pumps blood throughout the body via the circulatory system, supplying oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and removing carbon dioxide and other wastes. Without the heart, the body would quickly cease to function; hence the term “heart health”! A healthy heart is vital to well-being and health. I prophesy that God’s Life and healing virtue flows, to touch and heal any abnormality or weakness, and restore our hearts to wholeness, in Jesus name!

Interestingly, in creating our physical heart as a life-sustaining organ, God also uses the term ‘heart’ in Scripture, to speak of spiritual vibrancy. Just as the physical heart can diagnose physical conditions, our spiritual heart diagnoses spiritual health. The “heart” describes the core of the soul, centre of personality, and nucleus of the inner life – thinking, feeling, and willing. Both spiritually and physically, the heart is the heart of the matter. Sustaining a healthy heart is critical: “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (Pro.4:23, New Living Translation). Much more than our choices, education, social status, luck or circumstance, our hearts determine the course of our lives! God said to Samuel: “The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the HEART” (1 Sam. 16:7). 

A few salient truths from our meditation text, on the significance of the heart to life and destiny-fulfilment: “The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not share its joy” (v.10); “Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, and the end of mirth may be grief” (v.13); “The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied from above” (v.14); “A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones” (v.30). “Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, but what is in the heart of fools is made known” (v.33). In essence, backsliding begins from the heart to influence an entire life; so do positive attitudes and virtues. The soundness of the heart determines the soundness of life. Also, wisdom is most profitable when it flows from the heart, but foolishness in the heart makes it vulnerable.

Here are Seven Instructions to Nurturing a Healthy Heart:

Develop a heart for God: Make time each day to dig into His Word, spend time with Him, meditating on His truth. He’ll prepare you for all of life’s challenges and choices. In Him, your heart will never grow weary.

Guard your heart from sin: “…whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his HEART” (Mt.5:28b). Unfaithfulness starts in the heart: “Do not lust after her beauty in your HEART…” (Pro.6:25a). Developing a heart for God and His Word is the sure antidote against sin.

Pray from the heart: This is more effectual than praying to impress God with position, status, ‘show’ or titles (Mk.12:38-40).

Let God open the Eyes of Your heart: As you spend time with Him daily, you’ll see as He sees. You’ll discover passions, gifts and talents in you and others, to be developed; and insights into strengths and weaknesses to maximise or overcome.

Stay heart to heart: Be part of a healthy community of faithful lovers of God as you journey through life (Heb.10:25).

Give from the heart: Jesus is more concerned about the size of your heart than of your wallet (Mk.12:41-44).

Sustain your unique and healthy heart: Learn to nurture your God-endowed identity as you invest in your passions and develop your interests. Have a heart for others by finding ways to invest in and express your gifts to bless them.

Your heart is the steering wheel of your life! A sound heart guarantees sound health!