For more information go to www.americanheart.org.

As much as we should work toward having a healthy heart, there is a more vital concern. We need to make sure our spiritual heart is healthy. The body will die someday but your heart, the inner man, and the real you will not die. Where you spend eternity will be determined by the condition of your heart. “Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). What’s in our heart affects all the aspects of life. “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). (See also Matthew 12:34.) “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matthew 15:19).

How can we have a healthy heart? First - EAT RIGHT. It’s been said that you are what you eat. Make sure you partake of the life-giving, nourishing, sin-killing, faith building, devil chasing, cleansing Word of God. “…Incline your ears unto my sayings…. keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those who that find them; and health to all their flesh” (Proverbs 4:20-22). The greatest prescription for your heart is the GOS-PILLS (gospels). (See Luke 4:4, John 5:31, 47-58.)

Second - EXERCISE and spiritual fitness will strengthen your heart. “For bodily exercise profits a little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (I Timothy 4:7, 8). Americans spend millions on exercise equipment and at fitness centers each year, but ignore or neglect to strengthen their inner heart. We need a daily work out in God’s Gym. Through the spiritual disciplines such as prayer, praise, repentance, and obedience to the Word of God we can have a healthy heart in rhythm and sync with God, others, and ourselves. Running and walking with God keeps one in spiritual fitness. (See Isaiah 40:31, I Corinthians 9:24-27, Galatians 5:16, 22, 24, 25.)

Third – EMOTIONAL EASE will help your heart both physically and spiritually. Stress is hard on the heart. Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God believe also in me…” (John 14:1-3). Jesus said that His yoke is east and His burden is light. (See Matthew 11:28-30.) Jesus, the creator and Savior is “lowly in heart”. We are admonished to learn humility of heart from Him, thus finding rest for our souls. (See Philippians 4:4-7.)

Fourth, ELIMINATE fat and high cholesterol foods that clog up the arteries. We must also keep our spiritual arteries clean and clear. Confess and receive forgiveness for resentment, hatred, unforgiveness, and sin. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9).

Fifth - EXAMINE your heart. King David was called a “Man after God’s own heart.” David was not perfect but he had a passion for God. After sinning grievously, he prayed “Wash me thoroughly from my inequity and cleanse me from my sin, create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit with-in me…” (Psalm 51). The blood of Jesus can cleanse your heart like nothing else. (See Revelation 5:9.)

Sixthly – an EXUBERANT, joyful heart will help you have a strong heart. “A merry (cheerful) heart doeth good like a medicine…” (Proverbs 17:22). “…For the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). One of my favorite quotes is by John Bunyon who displayed a joyful, peaceful heart even when thrown in prison for preaching the gospel without a license.

A Happy Man

The happy man was born in the city of regeneration, in the parish of repentance unto life. He was educated in the School of Obedience; how works at the trade of Diligence and does many jobs of self-denial.

He owns a large estate in the country of Christian Contentment and wears the plain garments of humility. He breakfasts every morning on spiritual prayer and sups every evening on the same. He also has “meat to eat the world know not of.” He has the Gospel submission in his conduct, due order in his affection, sound peace in his conscience, sanctifying love in his soul, real divinity in his breast, true humility in his heart, the Redeemer’s yoke on his neck, the world under his feet, and a crown of glory over his head. In order to obtain this, he prays fervently, believes firmly, waits patiently, works abundantly, redeems his time, guards his sense, loves Christ and longs for glory.

Seventhly – EXPECT A NEW HEART. Sometimes a person’s heart is beyond repair, then only a heart transplant can save that persons life. We all need a spiritual heart transplant. “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it” (Jeremiah 17:9). When we are “born again” by the spirit, we receive a new heart. (See John 3:3.) “A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit I will put into you” Ezekiel 36:26).

You can have a NEW, HEALTHY HEART:

A - Admit you have sinned. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

B - Believe in Jesus. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

C - Confess and leave your sin. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)