HOW’S YOUR HEART? …Hello Hump Day readers. The question above is what I want to share in this devotion because we need our hearts to keep pumping through our bodies otherwise we die, however, we often forget we need our hearts every day to remind us of caring, hope, kindness, and all the things God wants us to do and share with others.

So, how is your heart? What would you say about it? Perhaps standing in front of the mirror and looking at yourself may catch your image and make you wonder “am I OK?” I know that seems dumb, but in our scurrying-rat-race-pace, we just push on harder and harder and we don’t listen to our heart where God’s goodness is there for us. Of course, the other part of our hearts is if we do not take care of them, our health declines quickly.

Here are a few questions to think about your heart today:

  • Is your heart troubled?
  • Is your heart trusting or wondering?
  • Is your heart opened to others or is it closed?
  • Is your heart divided or focused?
  • Is your heart tender and generous?

In John 14:1 [CSB] Jesus said “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”

And in John 14:27 [ESV] Jesus said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

In Mark 12:30 [GWT] Jesus again says about our hearts: “So love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”

In Psalm 73:26 [ESV] Asaph wrote: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

And in Proverbs 4:23 [Voice] Wisdom says: “Above all else, watch over your heart; diligently guard it because from a sincere and pure heart come the good and noble things of life.”

Scripture has so much about our hearts and the reason is because that is our core, without the core of our hearts we would be people like stone, fearful, mean and nasty and probably cranky as well. Think about this: If we have divided hearts, we will have divided lives. And if we have closed hearts, we will have narrow lives. Let’s face it, the condition of our hearts determines the condition of our lives. If we have steadfast hearts, we’ll have committed lives. If we have generous hearts, we’ll have expansive lives.

When Jesus tells us not to let our hearts be troubled he isn’t saying about pretending that everything is fine—it’s about anchoring our hearts in trust with the Lord. When our hearts are rooted in Him, we can face anything.

God wants to give us a heart that’s steadfast, tender, generous, and trusting. When our heart is aligned with His, our life will reflect His character. So remember, the condition of your heart determines the condition of your life! AMEN.