Monday, September 15, 2008

Cleaning the heart valve

My mother just came home on Thursday last, from 5 weeks of being in the hospital. She had heart surgery to replace a leaking valve. The doctor said there was a lot of bacteria there which was making her really sick in other areas of her body as well. According to her, he said that there is still some kind of bacteria hiding out in her body and there is a big possibility that it could happen again because it will find its way to her heart. He wasn't sure how it got there but he said sometimes our lifestyle causes these things to happen. We have talked about it and I have been praying for her a lot as well as encouraging her to give that same heart over to God.

While reflecting on our conversation this morning, I started to think about my heart and where it could be leaking. I thought about the valves of my own heart. I thought about the bacteria that forms in our bodies and hides out and when we least expect, it attacks our heart.

The doctor isn't sure of the source of my mother's particular bacteria, but my mind went to the things that God says could cause bacteria to grow in my heart. Ephesians 4 tells us to, "Put off falsehood, get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice, let there not be even a hint of sexual immorality or any kind of impurity among us, or greed, nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place." All these things I realize have the potential to cause a great stench in my life. In Proverbs 4:23 we are told to "guard our hearts, for everything we do flows from it."

I ask myself, "Am I guarding my heart? Am I allowing bitterness, and rage and slander, foolish talking, greed, selfishness, am I allowing these things a place in my life to form bacteria ?"
I noticed that the word constantly says to put off certain things. It also says don't do certain things or get rid of these things. The responsibility is mine to lay aside anything that could cause my heart valves to leak, anything that could spread to other areas of my life and cause contamination.

I want to live a life holy and pleasing to God. I want to be a sweet sweet smell in His nostrils and pleasant sound in His ears.

Lord I just thank you for Your Holy Spirit and for your cleansing blood. I thank you for your the mirror of Your word that shows me where I need to make adjustments. I thank you Jesus that if I confess my sins you are faithful and just to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Wash me today Lord and I know I shall be whiter than snow. Thank you in Jesus name.

Blessings,
Vickie

3 comments:

Terri Tiffany said...

Awesome devotional! Vickie, I love your posts and I love your willingness to go forward and write for God! I pray your mom heals quickly! My mother had to have a valve replacement two years ago and is doing well- I pray the same for yours!

TeriAnnElizabeth said...

Dear Vickie,
Wow...I do believe there is a divine connection going on! Praise GOD for sending sisters to me that are really hungering after GOD and they want all of HIM! No more junk food...but real food of HIM and HIS Word! I thank HIM for you and your hungering spirit!

I am thinking divine connection because you were talking about your Mom and her heart and then about the way "sins" atack our heart for GOD.

I am praying for your Mom - Let healing flow over her like warm oil of annointing!

I just told another sister on here today how I kept seeing our body as HIS temple. The heart that gets bitter and then hard or leaking from the valves, like you said that cause it not to pump what we need to stay healthy.

This is just the thing I was thinking! Our body as HIS temple and what do we do with it or allow into it.

You are precious and you got a heart for HIM, for sure. That is one request I have never gotten a no on...more of HIM.
Blessings and praying for you and your family...Love In HIM!
Teri

Yolanda said...

Vickie,

What a blessing to have be meeting a new Sister in Christ, new as new into my life. I love you already!

Your post here, is such a great visual and beats to the rhythym of my very own heart. To be holy, and Christ like, because He asks me to, and that is the very least that I could do for ALL that He has done for me.

Lord, cleanse me.

Lovingly,
Yolanda