HEART AND MIND
Good Morning! Hope your week is off to a good start. Mine is going to get better today! Really don’t understand much of this process I am walking through. Was convinced finishing radiation and chemotherapy, I was going to start feeling so much better. The last 3 days have been awful. Bad headache and fatigue level as high as it’s been. Feeling better this morning and hopeful.
I have always been fascinated with the story of King David. Scripture tells us he was a “man after God’s own heart.” He was also a man who struggled. He made some courageous, bold decisions and made some very poor, selfish, and sinful decisions. Yet he did always seem to come back to God.
He said this to God. “Test me, Lord and try me, examine my heart and my mind.”
I am not real sure I want to be tested right now. Maybe much of this life in a broken world is often a test whether we choose to see it that way or not. What does stick out to me is the “heart and mind” connection. They are different and impact each other.
Here is another idea from David. “The Lord does not look at things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Psalms 25:16-17
The last three day’s my head has been falling into some negative places. What I absolutely see is how that impacts my heart. I find myself angry quicker. I have to keep apologizing to Gracie, she get’s the brunt of that. When my mind is off my heart gets hard or when my heart gets hard my mind gets off. They really are connected.
I like where David continues to go with his thoughts. He says to God. “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the trouble of my heart and free me from my anguish. Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord is in you.” Psalms 25:20-21
Here is my challenge connected to David’s idea about people looking at the outward appearance. I tend to see things not as “they are,” but I see things through the lens of how “I am.” All of this reminds me today that I better do some things that help keep my heart and mind in a healthy place. Pain, struggles, brokenness the reality of this life can really challenge each of us to keep our hearts and minds in a positive healthy place.
I want to encourage you to continue to work on some healthy practices to keep your heart and mind in a good place. What you read, listen to, watch, who you hang out with, what you eat or drink, the exercise you get. They are all some practical ways to protect your heart and mind.
Let’s stay on track and encourage one another to do the same.
Remember, you are Loved and of Great Value!!!!!
Peace,