What Does Your Heart Do?
Most children learn early on that the heart is a vital part of their bodies. They know it is a pump. Many children who are taught the scriptures know that the heart is important, but sometimes we think the “heart” is the “brain.” Apparently, that is only a piece of the bigger design of God’s wonderful plan for how we function. Could it be that your heart has a memory?
“The heart contains an intrinsic nervous system that exhibits both short and long-term memory functions. The intrinsic nervous system of the heart consists of approximately 40,000 neurons called sensory neurites which relay information to the brain. It is possible that these neurons play a pivotal part in memory transfer.” Psychology Today
Many Crucial Heart Functions and Malfunctions
As the article in Psychology Today describes the functions of the heart, it becomes an even more amazing piece of God’s design brilliance. The article says, “These are examples of the perfectly designed ecosystem our body represents. The moment one of its elements changes, everything else is affected, and hardly ever in a good way.” In other words, there are many things that can destroy the heart and the rest of the body. “Sustained stress, anger, and anxiety can disrupt cardiac function by changing the heart’s electrical system, hastening atherosclerosis, and increasing systemic inflammation.” LINK
Heart Understanding
The Bible says we should tune our ears to incline our hearts to understanding.
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;
yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5
“Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs 3:3
“Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.” Prov. 23:12
“My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.” Prov. 23:15
Heart Trusting
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Prov. 3:5-6
Heart Keeping
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Prov. 4:23
Heart Receiving
“The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.” Prov. 10:8
Maintaining the Heart’s Health
“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” Prov. 12:25
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Prov. 13:12
“All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.” Prov. 15:15
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Prov. 17:22
Heart Pondering
“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.” Prov. 15:28
Your Heart Reflects Your Character
“As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.” Prov. 27:19
“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5
Don’t Have a Foolish Heart
“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:21
The Foolish Heart Remedy
Jesus is the heart remedy that each of us needs for an evil heart. Matthew 9:4 says “But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, ‘Why do you think evil in your hearts?’”
“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
“For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, ‘Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down) or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
Heart Focus
“And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” Matthew 22:37
“Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:5-7
All scripture passages are from the English Standard Version except as otherwise noted.
Know Your Flocks & Herds 