“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23
As my dad neared his 60th birthday, he had every reason to believe he was as healthy as anyone his age. He managed his weight well. He didn’t have any unhealthy habits. He made sure to get plenty of rest. But one day as he was mowing the yard, he discovered that he wasn’t as healthy as he thought he was.
He began to feel especially fatigued, and there was a tightness in his chest. That led to a visit to the doctor and a series of tests. The results were conclusive. He had a major blockage in one of his arteries that would require bypass surgery. Thankfully, there was no heart damage, and the surgery was successful. So he was able to live nearly 30 more years. It was all because he paid attention to the warning signs that reveal the presence of heart disease.
The Bible often refers to the heart as a way of describing the center of one’s being. In other words, your heart is who you are. It’s who you really are as opposed to who you would like others to think you are or what image you portray of yourself to others. It’s you. Your heart is the real you.
Just like it is with our physical heart, there are ways to tell how healthy the heart of our being really is. It’s important that we pay attention when one of these spiritual indicators reveals that something is wrong within. It’s God’s way of alerting us that our heart is needing attention.
As you review these indicators, it’s critical that you are willing to tell yourself the truth should you recognize that one or more of them are pointing to an unhealthy heart. For unless you are willing to face the truth, your inner disease will continue to damage your life.
Here are the indicators that reveal the health of your heart:
The words you say – In Matthew 12:34 Jesus said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” This reminds us that our words have a way of revealing what is true about us whether good or bad. That’s especially true in our unguarded moments when the words come out before we’ve had a chance to filter them. Our words whether written or spoken are a clear indicator of the condition of our heart.
Consider the conversations you have had over the last few days. Were they full of life, blessing and hope, or were they more marked by sarcasm, criticism, and destruction? Likewise, consider the words that you use when you post something on Facebook or write an email to someone. You may feel justified using harsh and divisive words. But what are they saying about your heart?
As author Trevor Hudson reminds us, “words…possess meanings that reach into eternity.” Indeed they do. For it was Jesus who said, “I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an accounting for every careless word you utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37)
The way you handle money – Again, we need to learn from Jesus. In Matthew 6:21 He said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” So if you want to get a read on your spiritual health, look at your attitude toward money. Ask yourself the following questions.
- Do I spend money responsibly, or do I tend to live above my means?
- Does my desire for money cause me to work excessive hours?
- Do I define my worth based on what I have?
- Do I envy those who have more than I do?
- Do I look down on those who have less than I do?
- Is money a source of ongoing conflict in my home?
- Am I honest in my financial dealings?
- Am I generous toward those in need and in support of the work of my church?
These questions and others like them can go a long way toward helping you determine the true state of your heart.
Patterns of living – Consider these words from Jesus in Mark 7:21-22: “For from within, out of heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.” The various acts of unrighteousness that Jesus lists are more than individual acts of sin. They represent patterns of living that flow from a heart that is still in the need of transformation. These patterns are our default behaviors that rise from within our false self.
So the problem isn’t the acts themselves as sinful and hurtful as they may be. Rather it’s the condition of the heart that should concern us. When we act in these ways, we are doing so because it’s on our heart to do them. What we need, then, is a change of heart.
As you consider these three means of evaluating the condition of your heart, you must remember that you cannot heal your own heart nor is merely being forgiven a remedy. Only God can mend a heart that is disordered. And that happens as we fill our minds with His truth and open our lives to His restorative power.