Take It to Heart
Feb 1, 2022
Did you know, English speakers use at least 70 idioms that include the word heart? Like ‘young at heart’, ‘take heart’, and ‘a heart of gold’? These figures of speech mostly refer to the emotional side of one’s being or the seat of one’s emotions. But one phrase creatively weds two different meanings associated with the heart — “Love Your Heart.”
“Love Your Heart”
This catchy slogan, used by the American Heart Association, hopes to raise awareness of heart health, and raise funds for their work. It depends upon our emotional heart caring enough to do something good for the well-being of our physical heart. For 2020, the CDC reported heart disease as the leading cause of death in the USA. Thus, it is vital that we work on promoting a heart-healthy lifestyle through our diet and exercise, etc. The health of our heart is the ‘heart of the matter’ that we must ‘take to heart’!
If our physical heart needs that attention, so also our spiritual heart needs our careful attention.
“Guard Your Heart”
King Solomon penned this proverb, and he’s the wisest man who ever lived. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23-26). Solomon is not saying to be so guarded that we never allow anyone into our life to befriend or love. Instead, he stresses the priority of guarding one’s spiritual heart health. When the core of our life is good, good comes forth from that.
How does one keep one’s spiritual core healthy?
♥ Guard what we ponder—worry can weigh down one’s heart
♥ Guard against complaining—it gives one a ‘heart murmur’
♥ Bitterness gives one ‘heart-burn’, ask God for His antacid—gratitude
♥ Keep Jesus at the center of our life for He cleans the heart
These are starters to gain a healthy heart; then love others generously. For the world needs love, people need love.
Happy Heart Day!! Enjoy being with your ‘loved ones’.
And know that God loves you!
I’m so glad you are in my life,
♥ Sherree Lane, campus pastor Scandia Shores