When I think of tending to our hearts, three experiences come to mind.
The first is from the kids’ ministry a few years ago when we put on a skit entitled “Heart Surgery.” The actors, mostly kids, raced to triage the ailing patient. Immediate surgery was needed, which was performed behind a screen where a spotlight projected the action as a shadow. Every oversize prop including saws, knives, enormous needles and yarn sutures were employed to resemble the “surgical” technique. A rubber mallet was used to administer “anesthesia.” While the antics were over the top, the dialog covered the issue of a spiritually sick heart and illustrated the need to remove sin or rebellion. The doctor concluded the procedure by waking up the patient and giving him prescriptions to keep his heart spiritually healthy including Bible reading and confession. I grin when I think of the crazy operation projected onto the screen.
The second is when I have sat in cardiac surgery waiting rooms: the first time when my husband had open-heart surgery; the second with my sister-in-law while my brother had a repair to his aorta. My brother’s procedure required two full days of surgery. I spent the second day with her and their one-year-old son in a secluded waiting area. After eight hours, the surgeon, looking completely drained, reported that the operation was a success. These were hard experiences to witness and grueling for the patients. But the health of one’s heart requires drastic measures at times.
Our spiritual hearts need attention, too, which brings to mind the third experience: pruning tomato plants. To me it is a metaphor for the spiritual work of tending my heart. I have only a few tomato plants. Most weeks I prune the dead leaves or feeder branches to keep the plants healthy. Even those few plants demand an hour to prune what’s needed and to stake up the weighty stalks. If I neglect them at all, ripe tomatoes are lost in the tangle of dying leaves and snarled branches, to be found rotting days later.
Tending one’s heart implies a regular heart check before God. David gives two great examples of seeking God’s guidance in purifying our hearts. In Psalm 19:14 he pleads to his Rock and Redeemer, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight.” In Psalm 139:23-24, David asks God to search his heart and “see if there is any offensive way” in him.
To examine my heart means asking God to reveal where my attitudes are wrong or where I rebel against Him. Deep down I know rebellion is lurking in my heart because I have a will and because self cries out everyday for its way. As I sense His leading, I must confess my sins and omissions very specifically. Here I acknowledge that I don’t make this a practice. I neglect this disciplined approach to experience God’s faithful forgiveness because I focus too readily on the things I want from Him.
As I relearn that I can trust Him with my sin and with the care of my heart, I purpose to know my Redeemer better. As He purges the sin, there is room for more of Him and His healing grace.
Here is hope for healing, Isaiah 57:15:
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
To revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
Photo by Anna Tarazevich
ABOUT OUR BLOGGER
Linnea Tideman has always enjoyed sharing stories. Her childhood in New Hampshire and her Swedish heritage have provided her with a wealth of experiences, but also the foundation of her faith. She enjoys creative projects, travel, books, sewing, gardening, but most of all hospitality, often hosting fancy teas and occasionally something grand like recreating dinner on the Titanic. She serves the UrbanPromise and Good Neighbors ministries. Linnea lives in Landenberg with her husband Dave. They have three grown daughters. She hopes that her writing reflects how God continues to reveal Himself to us as our shepherd and Savior.