The Spiritually Healthy Heart

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 BSB

In an article published by Runner’s World Monday, it was reported that regular exercise can significantly lower the risk of developing some types of heart disease and irregularities. One of the most common heart rhythm disorders worldwide, atrial fibrillation—known as A-fib—involves irregular electrical impulses in the atrium, one of the two upper heart chambers. As a result, those chambers are out of sync with the lower chambers. When this happens, it significantly raises the risk of stroke, but recent research presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2023 found that physical fitness can play a major role in reducing the likelihood of developing A-fib. That’s certainly a reason to keep lacing up those running shoes isn’t it? A healthy heart is something we should all strive for. 

And you know, when it comes to a healthy spiritual heart, the Bible is clear that a healthy heart is one that is led by the Spirit rather than the flesh. Which means that a healthy heart is one that leads us to regularly exercise our spiritual muscle by reading the Word. This, in turn, will cause us to exhibit the fruits of the Spirit which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. You see, in order for us to lower our risk of developing spiritual heart disease or disorder, we must make the decision to discipline our spirits each and every day in the same way we discipline our flesh. 

So if the state of our spiritual health can be determined by the fruits we exhibit, how would you rate your heart health today my friend? This is a question we must regularly ask ourselves so we can avoid spiritual disease and irregularities. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that our spiritual heart health is even more important than our physical heart health. Knowing that, help us to crucify our flesh daily with its passions and desires so that we can live and be led by the Spirit. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!