Check my heart please…

My husband is the mechanic in our family and I must say that he does a great job! For years I have seen him under many a hood and most of those belonging to our friends and family. God has given all of us gifts and talents and he has definitely been blessed in this area among many others. I am proud of him as I have seen him use this gifting to bless countless people.

Although the mechanics of an automobile are not my area of expertise, I do know that it is important for the oil in the car to be changed on a regular basis. In order to keep things running smoothly, it must be clean and kept filled up. Sometimes the oil filter gets clogged up and there needs to be a new one put in. In doing these things, it helps to keep the car running smoothly.

The same goes for our heart as well. We have learned that many years of eating too many fat-laden foods can fill our arteries with plaque and cause them to clog up. This interferes with the flow of healthy blood reaching our heart. If we make a change in the way we eat, sometimes that can be reversed and help us to live a healthier life. Over the past few years, I have learned about some things other than high fat foods that can be really effective in clogging up our hearts. These things would be called Bitterness, Envy, and Jealousy, and they have the potential to cause serious damage to our bodies and possibly even lead to death.

I believe that we as individuals have a choice in what we allow into our lives and into our bodies. Whether it is unhealthy food choices or toxic thoughts and words flowing through us, they bring us harm. I can write about this because I personally know it to be true. I have struggled in these areas and therefore have experienced the destruction that they cause. I thank God that I have received some revelation and healing in these areas, but it is still a daily choice. The bible speaks of generational sin and I have seen these three things wreak havoc throughout my family line. I have made the decision that it will end with my generation. The buck stops here! I draw my sword and cut it off! It ends with my generation and it will not continue on into my children. But remember, it is a choice. I can only do my part and encourage those that come after me to make the same choice.

We have all been wronged in many ways, but I have found that when we harbor these toxic things, we are the ones that continue to suffer. There is coming a day when all wrongs will be dealt with and justice will be served! So for now do your best to enjoy all that you have been blessed with, to live your life without strife and enjoy each one of your days. Don’t harbor bitterness, envy or jealousy. Leave each one to the Lord and pray for others. I find that when I do this, life goes better for me and those that are the closest to me.

For my more mature readers, you remember the days of full service filling stations. The ones that you would drive into when your gas tank needed to be filled and it would be pumped for you instead of by you. I remember being in the car as a kid and hearing the words “fill it up please and check the oil.” There’s not too many of those places left anymore; it’s all self-serve nowadays. I am grateful that there is a place that I can go when I need to be filled up and cleaned out. I can always tell when I am clogged up and filled with particles of the devil’s dirt. I know when it’s time to go to the Master Mechanic and ask Him to check my heart. God has given me much to accomplish for Him and I need to be able to run on all cylinders. If you feel like you are chugging along or you are completely broken down on the side of the highway, He will come to your rescue. Just as some tow trucks seem to take forever to get to you, He may seem like He isn’t coming. But let me assure you He is and His timing is perfect.

A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones. Proverbs 14:30 The Message