Main Street Baptist Church

(Friday, August 15, 2008) One of the main reasons I run is for the health of my heart. I have some minor personal issues and a poor family history, so keeping my heart muscle in good shape is of major importance to me. I don’t HAVE to do so, but the quality and perhaps even quantity of my life may be affected. Keeping your heart strong and efficient is important, too. The heart beat of the average person is about 75, but for a runner it’s usually 50 to 60 beats per minute. Hearts of runners are typically a bit larger and stronger, so they beat more efficiently and less times in a day. When someone exercises three or more times a week for at least 30 minutes with their pulse about 120 or more, they are helping their cardio-vascular system strengthen and improve.

As a Christian I must keep my spiritual heart in top shape as well. Jesus said “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). The Bible uses the term ‘heart’ to refer to our inner self that thinks, feels and decides. It is the seat of emotions (Psalm 105:25; I Peter 1:22) as well as thought (Esther 6:6; Prov 2:10). It refers to our true character or personality (Jer 3:17; Matthew 5:8). God knows our hearts (1 Samuel 16:7). We are to love God with our whole heart (Matthew 22:37). So, spiritually speaking, my heart is the real inner me. Its very important I keep my spiritual heart, the inner me, pure and right with God, spiritually healthy, strong and efficient. I can’t neglect my physical heart or the results will catch up with me. Neither can I neglect my spiritual heart, my inner person, for that is the real me. As important as my physical heart is, my spiritual ‘heart’ is even more significant. Keeping it clean, strong in God, pure in thought and action and focused on Him in all things is vital to my present and my future. So how’s your heart – your spiritual heart that is?