Recently, my doctor recommended that I get an echocardiogram of my heart. I thank God that my test results came back good. During the test, I could hear my heart beating on the monitor. It was comforting that it did not skip a beat or rapidly flutter like a drummer kicking a bass drum.
After the test was completed, the Lord provoked me to examine myself to make sure I didn’t have anything clogging up the vessels in my heart (soul). Since then, I intentionally monitor my thoughts, what I watch on TV or words I listen to in the car. I am keenly aware of how having a clean heart equates to having a steady and healthy beat of my heart.
Your Heart and Soul are Intertwined.
For this article, I will refer to the heart as the soul. The Bible let’s us know we are a three-part being- spirit, soul, and body. We are a spirit; we have a soul, and we live in our physical body (I Thessalonians 5:23). Our thoughts and emotions are housed in our soul. No wonder the enemy works overtime to use people to offend us. His trick is to get us to consume his lies like unhealthy foods so that our soul will become blocked. Having an unforgiving heart towards your offender can cause major blockage. Not forgiving yourself from sins you committed in your past can clog your spiritual arteries even worse. I talk about the importance of forgiving yourself in my book, “Faith Fuel for Your Journey.”
The good news is Jesus’s purpose is to counter act the devil’s scheme. John 10:10 clearly describes this truth- “The thief does not come except to steal, kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.”
Knowing and embracing this truth can cause our soul to flow like living water (John 7:38).
Scriptures for Overcoming Offenses
Jesus has given us His Word to help us overcome offenses. We must maintain the Biblical perspective and reactions when insults come our way. How we react to those attacks will make the greatest impact to the condition of our heart. Here are some of the most powerful scriptures to help us overcome offenses that could clog up our heart:
- Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.”
- Philippians 4:9 “The things you learned, received, heard, and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
I love these two verses scriptures. Jesus implies that the accusations spoken against you are false. The Bible describes the devil as a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). We have all sinned in our past. If we have confessed Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, we are no longer the same person. If you want Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, you can do so by reciting Romans 10:9-10. Once you have done that, you are a new creature in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17). Accusations from your past can no longer be held against you.
I am praying for us all to learn more how to keep our hearts pure when offenses come. That way we will have a healthy beat of our heart.
I hope my article is a blessing to you and helps you to BeInspired Today.
Clifford F. Wright
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