Excerpt from sermon 6511
Hold out and look at your fist for a couple of seconds. Do you know what part of your body is just about the same size as your fist? If you said your heart you’re right. Your heart if it’s a normal, healthy heart is just about the size of your fist. Did you know that your physical heart has always been the size of your fist throughout your lifetime since birth? As a baby it was just about the size of your baby fist, your toddler fist and your teenage fist. Did you know that you have a spiritual heart as well? Your spiritual heart is just as important as your physical heart.
Dr. Doreen Liou is an Associate Professor of Health and Nutrition Sciences at Montclair State University. She is also a member here at . Dr. Liou confirms that if you take care of your physical heart your heart will take care of you for as long as you live. As a devout Christian she also confirms that if you take care of your spiritual heart it will take care of you throughout your spiritual walk here on earth. You most likely know a few ways to take care of your physical heart, but do you know how to take care of your spiritual heart? Well, first of all you need to know what and where your spiritual heart is.
According to God’s word (the Bible), the heart often represents the “desire” of a person or of an entire nation. The spiritual heart is what influences our soul, which is made up of our mind, our will and our emotions. It reveals our true nature and motivations. God cares more about what’s in your spiritual heart than in your external actions. The spiritual heart is also by nature selfish, prideful and inclined to do foolish things. That is why I always say that the child does not have to be taught to do what is wrong, but the opposite. The first word many babies learn is not “mama” or “papa”, it’s “NO!”
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In Luke 21:34 Jesus points out, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." This reveals that the motivation of the spiritual heart also has long term and even eternal ramifications. That, I believe, is the main reason why we should take care of it. Allow me to offer you three simple steps for improving your Cardiospiritual health.
1. Eliminate Risks
Stop smoking and drinking the pollutants of life which include, among others, hours of useless Internet activity or TV viewing and relationships that promote jealousy, selfishness and/or abusive behavior. Instead, spend some time in prayer, helping others through acts of kindness and enjoying God’s nature along with loved ones. Most important, develop and build upon relationships that are centered on faith, family and fun.
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2. Improve Your Diet
Start eating healthy spiritual food found in God’s word (the Bible). Today you can download the entire bible on your smart phone or iPod! You can even listen to it on your CD or MP3 player. Listen to inspirational music. 99.1 FM is the fastest growing family safe Christian broadcasting station in the Northeast with hours of great and uplifting music.
3. Exercise Regularly
Dr. Liou agrees that no diet is totally effective without combining it with some form of exercise. A spiritual exercise routine includes: Regularly going to church, fellowship with people who share your faith and honoring God by making sure to include him in your goals, plans and endeavors.
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
