A Healthy Heart

 I am writing this devotional as told to me by my father, Mr. David Adams from Heritage Baptist Church in Palmyra, N.Y.

    A little more than two weeks ago I had open heart surgery. It was the most painful thing I have ever had to experience, but I was not afraid to go through it because I knew that God was in control. God knew that my family needed me, and I believed that my work on earth was not yet done. However, my prayer was for God's will, and if He decided to bring me to Heaven, I had peace about that also. 

    I had a bad heart because of the poor choices I made in my life. I have had heart problems my whole life, yet I chose to ignore them and ate a lot of food that wasn't good for my heart. This caused my heart to get worse and worse, until I finally had to have the surgery. If I had not had the surgery, the blockage would have killed me eventually. Sin is the same way. We have all had a sin problem our whole lives and if we ignore it, it will get worse and worse. I have long known the importance of making spiritually healthy choices in order to have a clean heart before God. In Proverbs 4:23 it says, "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." The choices of daily reading the Bible, praying, going to church, and trying to be like Christ are all ways to keep our spiritual hearts healthy. Now that I have had my surgery, I am changing the choices I make to keep my physical heart healthy also. 

    My poor choices didn't only affect me. My wife, children, and other family members all were affected by this surgery. They went through a very hard time during and after the surgery. Your sin does not only affect you. I used to think that my choices could not hurt others when I was younger, but now I realize how foolish that was. The people that love you will be hurt when you make the wrong choices. 

    My bad heart kept me from doing everything that I would have liked. I got tired much easier because of the blockage, and I was overall worse off. Your sin will keep you from serving God the best that you can. If your heart is full of sin God cannot use you the way He would like to. God knows what is in your heart. In Jeremiah 17:10 it says, "I the LORD search the heart..." You must let go of your sin in order to be used by God and to serve Him to the best of your ability. 

    I am changing the choices I make now because I want my physical heart to stay healthy. I am getting help from my wife and others to help me make wise choices. If you have a spiritually sick heart, begin changing your choices today! Get help from others who have more wisdom than you, and make the best choices to have a healthy heart. The Lord will help you if you ask! In Ezekiel 11:19 it says, "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:" and in Ezekiel 36:26 it says, "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." Claim the promise! Ask God to clean your heart and make it healthy again.