“I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!” Psalm 119:32
Our hearts are the driving force of our entire being, spiritually and physically. It both pumps blood and determines our motivations and aspirations.
While an enlarged heart in medicine (called a cardiomegaly) is potentially life-threatening, spiritually, an enlarged heart is great news of God’s faithfulness. This is what we call transformation.
God’s commitment
Take a few moments and read Ezekiel 36:26–27, where God declares his ongoing commitment to transform his people.
All of the possibilities for change rest on God’s initiation. He washes us clean. He smashes our idols. He gives us a new heart, causing us to walk in obedience and faith by the power of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, he makes forgiveness and reconciliation possible.
We are given a heart transplant, a new heart that beats with the pulse of the Holy Spirit. He keeps our spiritual heart beating without our awareness. And yet we play an active part keeping our hearts healthy.
Our contribution
My 11-year-old daughter is learning about the human body and recently marveled about how her heart keeps beating even though she doesn’t need to tell it to. Miraculously, it just keeps working, providing her body with oxygen and life. At the same time, it occurred to her that she needs to care for and tend to her body so her heart remains strong.
Although our primary contribution in our relationship with God is sin, he still provides the means of transformation. But we decide through active faith and obedience how we will care for our new hearts.
Heart health plan
How are you caring for your heart?
1. Read your Bible. It’s through Scripture that we learn and experience God’s character and begin to connect his Word to our daily lives.
2. Talk to God in prayer. Prayer isn’t only about making requests to God, but also about being in relationship with him. We can be honest in talking to him about our constant need for him.
3. Be in community. We need others in our lives to challenge and encourage us on to godliness.
Phil Smidt is the biblical living pastor at the Ballard church.
