Is It a Heart Condition… or a Condition of the Heart?

A couple of weeks ago, a friend shared that her husband had a heart attack. After a whirlwind of tests, doctors inserted a stent — and now? He feels like a million bucks. His family is relieved, and he’s got a new pep in his step (and probably fewer burgers in his diet).

Along with that stent came the usual advice: less red meat, skip the saturated fats, and get moving. Honestly, that’s good advice for all of us.

But it got me thinking — while a physical heart condition is serious, there’s another kind of heart condition we don’t talk about as often. It’s the condition of the soul, the spiritual heart. You know, the one that can quietly clog up with grudges, fears, unforgiveness, and anxious thoughts if we’re not careful.

We may pass the physical stress test, but if we’re harboring bitterness or letting peace slip away unnoticed, then we’ve got a different kind of blockage — and that one needs some Holy Spirit intervention.

King Solomon didn’t mince words:
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it determines the course of your life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

Above all else. Not just sometimes. That means guarding our hearts is a full-time job –and thankfully, we don’t do it alone.

God offers us the ultimate stent — His peace.
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

Peace is the prescription that clears out resentment, softens our sharp edges, and keeps our spiritual rhythm in sync. It’s better than kale and treadmill time combined!

When life throws curveballs (and it will), and peace starts leaking out, we can pray what David did in Psalm 51:10:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

And the reward?
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
(Matthew 5:8)

So, how’s your heart today? If the answer is anything but “peaceful,” maybe it’s time for a Holy Spirit check-up. He’s the best cardiologist there is — and He always makes house calls.