How’s Your Heart?
In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson declared February as American Heart month. Presidents after him continued the tradition of spotlighting the important life-giving organ, the heart, throughout the month of February. If you search “heart health,” the internet is quick to give you a list of things to do to help prevent heart disease. Watch what you eat, get moving, annual screenings, and the list goes on.
Like our physical hearts, our spiritual hearts also need regular attention and care. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 4:23 to “above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” If we aren’t careful with what we consume in the form of what we watch, what we read, and what we listen to, those influences can have an unhealthy effect on our spiritual heart. Exercising self-control and discernment are key to guarding one’s heart and regular “screenings” are vital to keep a healthy spiritual heart.
I find it fitting that Valentine’s Day lands in the middle of our heart awareness month. What better time to stop and take a closer look at our hearts, both physically and spiritually. What changes need to be made in what we’re consuming? What preventive measures do we need to adjust or add to ensure a healthy rhythm of our hearts?
(Image credit: EMS Safety)