The sledge hammer pounding on the mattress underneath me, woke me from a sound sleep. When my eyes opened I couldn’t see because it was still dark. The fish in my chest flipped over a couple of times right before the oxygen was sucked out of the room.
Thump, thump, thump. I wondered if I was having a panic attack. No, I am not prone to anxiety and I never had one before, but I’ve been through a lot; it could happen.
Thump, thump, thump…..thump, thump……thump……thump, thump thump….thump.
Okay, I am not a cardiologist, but I don’t have to sleep in a Holiday Inn to know this is not normal. I placed two fingers on my radial artery and felt the erratic pulsations; a few beats, a pause, another beat or two, another pause. My heart was out of rhythm.
Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out.” MSG
DEPLETED
Before I went to bed, the pang in my gut reminded me I skipped dinner. Oh well, what could it hurt? I pursed my lips around the mouthpiece and inhaled the new medication. I’d do anything to get rid of this persistent cough. Apparently a lack of nutrition coupled with prednisone caused low potassium. The addition of an asthma medication was a perfect concoction to send my heart reeling. I’m sure a little, okay a lot of, stress probably didn’t help either.
I don’t know about you, but I tend to treat my spiritual heart the same way. The thoughts I suck into my mind interact with circumstances and soon my spiritual heart goes haywire. Then if I skip essential nutrients like prayer and Bible study and quiet time, I’m arrhythmic.
Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” NIV
HEART TRANSPLANT
I need a new heart. The one in my soul is prone to wander, led astray by situations, emotions and relying on relationships other than God for peace and happiness. The truth of the matter is, you and I both need a heart transplant. Not a refurbished version of our old heart, but a brand-new one, created by God to beat in perfect rhythm with His own heart. God wants us to experience peace despite our circumstances. We know our heart is beating in rhythm with His when we love what He loves and hate what He hates.
1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world or the things in the world…” NKJV
CUT IT OUT
As a surgeon, I prefer a quick fix. Slice open the skin with a scalpel, separate the muscles, clamp off the hemorrhaging vessels and cut out the offending organ. Then close it securely with suture, apply a bandage and voila’! Let the healing begin. But my spiritual heart disease is as chronic as my physical disease.
The Great Physician wants total transformation, which is a life-long process. #newheart #rtp Click To TweetEzekiel 36:26, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” HCSB
PROTECT IT
Without suppression of the body’s immune system, transplanted organs are rejected. Whenever God’s spiritual heart is transplanted into our fleshly body, an assault occurs. Keep your new heart healthy; feed your spirit and starve your flesh. After all, the donor gave His life so you could receive a new heart. Protect it.
Proverbs 4:23, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” NKJV
WHOLE HEART
Are you walking around with a broken heart? God wants your heart to be whole, not broken or divided. Love God with everything.
Despite your circumstances
Despite your disappointments
Despite your failures
Despite your relationships
Every single moment, intentionally choose God’s glory above your every need and your every want and the pieces of your heart will beat together in perfect rhythm.
Matthew 22:37, “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” ESV
BE HEART HEALTHY!
What is your heart condition?
thank you for sharing, I needed to hear that this morning. I have been much too focused on making my goal in life getting off prednisone lately, and less focused on things of the Kingdom of God. It is so easy to slip down that slippery slope, if we don’t stay connected to our connector, Jesus. Bless you!
Ugh prednisone. Can’t live with it can’t live without it. Yesterday I didn’t know which post I was going to share today. When I prayed this is the one. So it’s for you!
Vickie, thank you for sharing. I’m so blessed to have gotten to know you, through the birth of Maddie and through your leadership in my Sunday School class. I look forward to your posts always. Seems they are always speaking to me. Reminding me. How comforting to know God allows us to have peace in him no matter what else is going on in our lives. ❤️
No matter what! Prayers for you
Pharmacy school problem #984- getting caught up on the mechanism of action of prednisone and bronchodilators with their adverse effects instead of focusing on the message
That’s hilarious! I had frequent PVCs for 2 weeks
The word used for CREATE in Genesis 1 means create from nothing . . . . the same word used in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, Oh God.” Create from nothing . . . from nothing that is within me!! What a beautiful reminder that only HE can create a clean heart in me!! There is NOTHING in me that will help that exist! Only God can do that and only when I choose Him over the things of this world that I think I need and want, the things that distract me from Him!!
Thank you for that reminder today!!
I do love that unique use of the word. Such a great truth
Vickie, your blog is such an inspiration so glad I get to enjoy. Blessings
You are always such an encouragement. Thanks
Just as the physical donor must die to enable the recipient to live, my redeemer died to give me eternal life. Such a beautiful picture. My antirejection drugs, prayer, time in the Word and Praise must be used constantly, such a powerful reminder. Thank you for your wisdom.
Thank you to a lady who shared a lot of wisdom with me
Wonderful post on the continuing nature of spiritual heart health. I’m so grateful for the One who makes everything new. Thank you. For a time, I took prednisone, I have a bit of a clue to your dilemma. I pray for the day you can leave it off and the grace to carry on until then.
Greater grace. Thanks we all need that
Thanks for always writing uplifting and encouraging words. I always get a blessing from your blog.
What great comparisons of your physical condition to our heart condition. The condition of our sick soul is something we have to take serious and you are right we sometimes neglect that part of our health. Thank you so much for sharing with us at Sitting Among Friends on Wednesdays. Your link this week gave me a page not found. Here was the link it went to. It worked when I deleted everything after heart. But I didn’t want you to miss any traffic due to it. If you have links that aren’t working, you are allowed on my site, to delete your own links and then add them back. http://myupsiderightlife.com/2016/04/16/matters-of-the-heart/%20%E2%80%8E Thanks again for the great encouragement.
Thanks so much. Great to be “sitting among friends.” Sorry about the technical glitch, thanks for letting me know.