Daniel Fast-Day 13 Devotional – “I need a Heart Cath”
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer”
– Ps 19: 14
Recently I have had several family members dealing with various health issues as it relates to their hearts. Not long ago I found myself visiting with one of my family members waiting to have a “heart cath” in a holding area at a hospital known for being one of the best hospitals for cardiology in America. this was a room probably 20×40 in size and had beds lined up on both sides all the way down. I am not sure how many patients were in there but I guess it is safe to say probably around 20 or so and as they wheeled patients out for their procedure, they wheeled another one in their place all day long.
I had several thoughts. One was I wish I was the doctor getting all that insurance money from all those procedures. (sorry, I wish my first thought was spiritual, but, yes, I am very carnal at times, most of the time actually), anyway, another thought was to tell my daughter who is in college to focus her nursing on cardiology, b/c it seems like that is some good job security these days especially with the American diet and stressful culture, pretty much guarantees that holding area will always be full, another thought was, God, I hope and pray I never have to come here as a patient (I am dreadfully fearful of heart surgery) and (ok, now the spiritual) that heart caths physically are not that much different than heart caths spiritually.
Jesus said in our reading today, “dont you understand yet? what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart” And O what darkness lies beneath! Evil things, bad thoughts, murder, sexual sins, stealing, lying, gossip and slander, and all come from our nice clean hearts…annnnhhhhh…WRONG, our dirty, vile, clogged with sin hearts. Well, I guess I should say “my, dirty, vile, clogged with sin heart”, I can’t speak for you, but I know the things I think about, and I know the profanity that comes from my mouth, (well, from under my breath, b/c God forbid that anyone hear me, the preacher cuss), and even more, and none of it is very God honoring and to be honest, it is quite ugly. I am pretty sure that I need a heart cath.
Catheterization is in the Bible. It is the greek word Katheridzo and found in numerous places, one of which is 1 John 1:9, its the word cleanse. I can be cleansed inside if I go to the hospital of confession. If I will confess, He will cleanse. this is why David wrote for us today…
“How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins, Don’t let them control me, then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer”
I prayed these verses today. I really like the “free of guilt” part, don’t you? I am so thankful He is forgiving and patient with me. Let these verses be your prayer as well…then enjoy living with a fresh, pumping, guilt free, cleansed heart. Blessings to you today, enjoy your Saturday, see you tomorrow at Worship.
Mike
LEARNINGS TO SHARE... 
Leave a Reply