Heart Clutter
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:1)
The heart is so central to the body, so significant for our health, that failure to care for, maintain, and protect the heart results in 17 million Americans dying each year from heart-related diseases. But as central as our heart is to our physical well-being, it is of even greater importance to our spiritual well-being.
When the heart experiences shock and sadness, troubles and trauma, hurt and heartache, it can weigh us down, and if left untreated, can literally tear us apart. It is no wonder that in one of his last earthly conversations with His disciples, Jesus spoke to them about caring for the heart. He told them not to let their hearts be troubled. For the disciples, the challenge they were facing was the prospect of Jesus no longer being with them physically after his death. They struggled with what his departure meant for their lives, their future, and their protection. Jesus' instruction to them then, and us now, was don’t allow the external troubles and challenges you face manifest into an internal burden and struggle that effects your present and future decisions.
Leaving issues unattended in your heart can cause you to harbor bitterness. It can cause you to develop hatred for another person or situation. It can even cause you to lose trust and faith in your Heavenly Father, like we talked about in yesterday’s devotional.
It’s kind of like cleaning out your gutters. It’s not a fun job, but you can’t allow debris to build up or your gutters will no longer serve the purpose they were created for. The same goes for your heart. It’s not always enjoyable to do the hard, emotional work of cleaning it out. But if you don’t, a lot of junk will start to build up, and your emotional and spiritual health will suffer.
So let me ask you a question. When was the last time you cleaned out your heart? Is there an issue you need to address that you’ve been avoiding for a while now? If so, I pray that you would go to your Heavenly Father and ask Him to help you. He wants you to be healthy and He will be more than happy to come alongside you and guide you to a healthier place emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
The heart is so central to the body, so significant for our health, that failure to care for, maintain, and protect the heart results in 17 million Americans dying each year from heart-related diseases. But as central as our heart is to our physical well-being, it is of even greater importance to our spiritual well-being.
When the heart experiences shock and sadness, troubles and trauma, hurt and heartache, it can weigh us down, and if left untreated, can literally tear us apart. It is no wonder that in one of his last earthly conversations with His disciples, Jesus spoke to them about caring for the heart. He told them not to let their hearts be troubled. For the disciples, the challenge they were facing was the prospect of Jesus no longer being with them physically after his death. They struggled with what his departure meant for their lives, their future, and their protection. Jesus' instruction to them then, and us now, was don’t allow the external troubles and challenges you face manifest into an internal burden and struggle that effects your present and future decisions.
Leaving issues unattended in your heart can cause you to harbor bitterness. It can cause you to develop hatred for another person or situation. It can even cause you to lose trust and faith in your Heavenly Father, like we talked about in yesterday’s devotional.
It’s kind of like cleaning out your gutters. It’s not a fun job, but you can’t allow debris to build up or your gutters will no longer serve the purpose they were created for. The same goes for your heart. It’s not always enjoyable to do the hard, emotional work of cleaning it out. But if you don’t, a lot of junk will start to build up, and your emotional and spiritual health will suffer.
So let me ask you a question. When was the last time you cleaned out your heart? Is there an issue you need to address that you’ve been avoiding for a while now? If so, I pray that you would go to your Heavenly Father and ask Him to help you. He wants you to be healthy and He will be more than happy to come alongside you and guide you to a healthier place emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
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