Heart attacks are the No. 1 cause of death in many parts of the world. In the US, a heart attack occurs every 20 seconds, with someone dying from heart disease every 34 seconds. In Singapore, one in three deaths is due to heart disease or stroke. We need to pay careful attention to what medical professionals are saying about heart attack prevention: reduce stress, don’t smoke, exercise regularly, and watch your diet. “Guard your heart above all else” is instruction that we ignore to our own peril (Proverbs 4:23).
But the “heart” in this verse is not the biological organ that pumps blood. In Scripture, the “heart” is the place where our feelings, attitudes, words, and actions are conceived (Luke 6:45). “As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person” (Proverbs 27:19). It’s the “inner man” that defines who we are.
The heart is where Christ makes His home (John 14:23; Ephesians 3:16-17), and where God’s Spirit dwells (Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17). The heart determines our receptivity and our responsiveness toward God (Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 11:19-20). It’s the center of our worship (Jeremiah 32:39; Psalm 86:12). It defines, shapes, and “determines the course of [our] life” (Proverbs 4:23).
Police and soldiers on active duty wear bulletproof vests to protect their hearts from possible danger. Solomon offers a heart attack protection and prevention advisory: “Pay attention” and “listen carefully” to God’s Word. Let His words “penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life . . . and healing to [your] whole body” (Proverbs 4:20-22).
The psalmist speaks of the importance of this advisory: “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). The risk of a fatal spiritual heart attack intensifies when you neglect and ignore God’s Word.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Numbers 21:4-9
More:
What do these passages (Deuteronomy 32:46-47; Joshua 1:7-8; Psalm 119:9-12, 119:97-105; Proverbs 3:1-2) say about protecting your heart?
Next:
What things are threatening your heart at this moment? What will you do to guard it?
Gary Shultz on February 21, 2015 at 7:28 am
A warning well spoken. I try to stick close to God for one and close to my exercise equipment for the other as you have recommended. Surprisingly each avenue strengthens the other, done properly the healthy body supports a healthy soul and vise-verso, that’s as they say, “pretty cool”. These exercises in spiritual growth are good for the heart and I am thankful for the Bloggers that take the time to be sure we are getting improvement. Thanks
Mike Wittmer on February 21, 2015 at 8:40 am
Good word! There are so many threats to our heart. We can’t chase them all. But we can protect ourselves by soaking our hearts in God’s Word. May He protect us today.
Marlena Graves on February 21, 2015 at 9:42 am
I am so glad that you brought this up. If our spiritual hearts are diseased, it will effect the life of God in us. We need to do whatever necessary to keep a health heart-otherwise the effects will be deadly.
Marlena Graves on February 21, 2015 at 9:44 am
Yes, we need to take care of our spiritual hearts otherwise the effects can be deadly. We can be physically fit and spiritually ill and vice versa.
Winn Collier on March 5, 2015 at 11:05 am
I think one of my main jobs as a dad is to watch over my son’s hearts. There’s lots of heart-stealers out there.