Tell Your Heart to Beat Again

 

The heart is a complicated topic to speak about. It’s the intangible part of our being. The term “heart” was used by the writers of the scriptures because it symbolizes a person’s center, physically, emotionally, intellectually, and morally. Often, it’s even used figuratively for describing the center of other inaccessible things.

 

The word ‘Heart’ (Hebrew: Lebab/Leb, Greek: Kardia) occurs over one thousand times in the Bible, making it the most common anthropological term in the scriptures.

 

‘Heart’ is a word that both ancient and modern people understand, just in slightly different lights. Modern people understand the heart as the beating-organ within our chest that is protected by our rib-cage. Ancient people, however, understood the heart to be the central organ that moved the rest of the body. Technically speaking, no, the Ancient people did not completely understand the heart’s actual physical function, but there is an element of truth to their beliefs.

 

The heart is used as a figure of inaccessibility, because of Its location in the body. It gives rise for anything that is remote and inaccessible.

 

1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)

7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

 

Jeremiah 17:10 (KJV)

10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

 

1 Corinthians 4:5 (KJV)

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

 

 

The Lord searches all of hearts, so that He can reward us per our conduct. In the time of judgment, God will expose the hidden counsels of our hearts. The heart’s reasoning, as well as it’s feeling, depends on its moral condition.

 

Mark 7:21 (KJV)

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

 

Jeremiah 31:33 (KJV)

33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

 

In our initial state, our hearts are sin ridden, but once the Lord touches our hearts, the residue of sin we carry begins to fall away as our new-found faith purges us from iniquity.

 

Acts 15:9 (KJV)

9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

 

Ephesians 3:17 (KJV)

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

 

There’s a story about a pastor who was given permission to be present during an open-heart surgery. He watched the surgeon saw open the patient’s chest, lift out the heart, and perform the operation. Upon completion, the surgeon placed the heart back in the patient’s chest and began to massage it; to prompt it to beat again. However, something wasn’t right thing time, the heart did not beat again. The pastor realized that he might witness the loss of a life as the surgeon tried again. No response. The team began to try more extreme measures, but still nothing worked. After more attempts, the surgeon removed his mask, knelt by the patient’s ear, and whispered, “Mrs. Johnson, this is your surgeon. The procedure went perfectly. Your heart has been repaired. Now tell your heart to beat again.” And it did.

 

 

Occasionally, we can find ourselves holding our ‘spiritual breath.’ As the lack of oxygen threatens to stop our hearts, we begin to panic, but we still have a choice. We can hold our breath on the proverbial operating table or we can tell our hearts to beat again. God is the Great Physician. He has performed the miraculous healing. He has removed the mask that separates us and has leaned down to whisper, “Child, the operation has taken place. Your heart has been repaired. Now tell your heart to beat again.”

 

Thankfully, the Lord is willing to fix your heart problem. It’s time to tell your heart to beat again. You will live to love another day, but you must breathe. The procedure is complete; you just have to do your part. God will heal all that breaks our hearts, He willingly does so, but the gift is only complete if we draw a breath.

 

With the dawning of the New Year, let’s put the past behind us. Let’s press toward the high mark. Get that spiritual heartbeat going again!