February is national heart awareness month.
Spoiler alert:
On Facebook, I got invited to participate in a status guessing game to bring awareness to the cause. It’s happening today. You post something like “it’s full of hopes and dreams–and it’s red!” or “it’s been broken a few times–and it’s red!” So you write something to describe your heart.
In today’s readings, I stumble over this:
“It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” Mark 7:20-23 (NLT) emphasis mine.
Heart status: “It’s prone to suspicion, fear and sadness. It battles against grudges and gets stuck in negative thought loops. I am ashamed of what really lurks there. It is deceitful … and it’s red!”
Practically, I think: I should exercise; I shouldn’t eat these cookies; does 1/2 and 1/2 really count as saturated fat?
Thought goes into the mechanics and maintenance of its functioning, but lately I have been giving real thought to what drives my heart. Don’t envy, wickedness, foolishness, fear, slander and the lot affect the performance of it? These unseen factors defile from within. The illness is most visible to those who hear me than to myself. Relationships are infected as thoughts spill out. These thoughts, the measure of the health of my heart and soul.
Lord, where do we start? I guess one thought at a time. Thanks for the check up.
Courtney (66books365)
Sixty-six books in a year 