I wouldn’t be surprised if my electrocardiogram (ECG) results would show I have ischemia – a condition where there is inadequate blood supply to an organ or part of the body, especially the heart muscles. The advice will always be to see a cardiologist.
When I was first diagnosed, I was disbelieving because I didn’t feel anything wrong with my heart. I am always asked if I have chest pains, shortness of breath, or fatigue easily and my answer had always been “no.”
This was the same answer I gave before undergoing hysterectomy four years ago. The doctor wouldn’t clear me for the operation because of the ECG result. I had to spend for a battery of heart tests, including an angiogram. Result? No blockage, thank God! They couldn’t explain why I have ischemia. So I went ahead with my hysterectomy.
Even if I actually feel well, I don’t mind taking prescribed medicines for ischemia. Today, at the prime of my life, the important thing thing is to do whatever keeps the heart strong.
The heart is a muscular organ that keeps other muscles going because of the blood it pumps through the blood vessels and circulates the body. Without the blood, we would have no oxygen and nutrients to keep us alive. So the heart is a life pump for the body.
But we don’t exist with a body only. What about our spiritual heart? What steps have we taken to keep it strong?
The way to tone our spiritual heart is to continuously soak it in prayer and in God’s Word. It is not enough to make time for the gym and drink healthy stuff for our heart. Equally, if not more than the earthly activities, we should be spending time in strengthening our faith, immersing in God’s presence and just allowing Him, our Maker, to dwell in a strong and faithful heart.
The Message Bible says in 1 Timothy 4:7-8 – “Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever.”
For me this is first priority. What good is a beautiful body without a kind and loving heart that lives in God’s ways? It’s just like a hollow piece of wood. Looks good but when you touch it, it crumbles apart.
I admit it is very challenging to spend even 15 minutes in prayer once we wake up, before we sleep or just anytime during the day because of the myriad of things we have to do and schedules to meet.
But that is exactly why we need to stop and immerse in prayer and read God’s Word. This will prepare us to deal with what the day has in store for us. Once the spiritual heart is pumping strongly, our physical heart is better geared to deal with the day’s stress, emotional pushes or anxieties.
We can call on the Holy Spirit to help boost our spiritual heart when we feel we can’t do it. Just let our hearts ride on the Spirit’s wings.
There’s this song entitled “Spirit Wings” by Joni Eareckson Tada that encourages us to do so: “And like a bird, my heart is flying free. I’m soaring on the song your spirit brings. O Lord of all, You let me see a vision of, your majesty.”
Our hearts can grow stronger with the help of the Holy Spirit. It will make a way out of our busy schedules to enable us to spend time in God’s presence. And once there, It will enlighten us when we read God’s word, to give us wisdom in the decisions we need to take and to lead us to do what is always good.
That is a disciplined way of living, more than any physical exercise can bring. Riding on the Spirit’s wings is God’s way of training us to strengthen our faith.
I know it’s not easy because we don’t see God or His Spirit. But that’s just it! Our spiritual heart thrives on faith – on believing even without seeing.
Every time I drink my medication for the heart, I hear a small voice that asks: “What about your spiritual heart? Have you taken time to make it strong today?”
My medicine is my reminder to involve God, too.
But shouldn’t it be that above all things, including dutifully taking my medicine, I should be engaged in doing things that will make God happy like stop complaining, being honest, doing good to others, praying more, forgiving and loving all?
And in faith, all these should give our body a healthier state and keep us in a happier condition because our spiritual heart is strong and pumping well.
So, how is your heart today?
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