Having a Heart for Jesus

Next month, we are reminded of the role our heart plays in our lives. The American Heart Association designates February as National Heart Month. We are encouraged to take the necessary steps needed to protect our health and are provided with an assessment which underscores risk factors that can interfere with our heart health. At some point in our lives, we may have wondered if someone close to us died from a broken heart. According to cardiologist Dr Michael Brodsky this isn't far from the truth. Brodsky states, "An emotional broken heart can really kill you." To read this article in its entirety visit a Google.com and type in keyword phrase broken heart and Dr. Brodksy.

We see the tie-in between our emotional and physical health; yet, we often neglect one important component. We may forget, from time to time, the importance of our service to God and how, it, too, impacts our heart. In today's Purpose Driven Life Devotion, Rick Warren shares some insight on this topic in his When Serving God, Listen to Your Heart Take a moment to read this devotional and then click back to this blog.

Indeed, we are given different gifts, talents and opportunities. Yet, we sometimes focus on the gifts, talents and opportunities that others have and may make unfavorable comparisons. You may have often heard that we are to 'bloom where we are planted'. Perhaps you are experiencing some financial, marital or significant problems that just seem overwhelming to you. You would like to serve abundantly, but you just can't right now. You feel anxious because you want to feel that God is using you. Your desire is to bloom elsewhere.

Have you ever watched a fellow Christian perform an act of service and wish that you could be used by God in the same way? For some time now, you may have felt that the door to more service continues to remain closed. You are puzzled as to why this is so. Have you, in fact, felt that intense frustration of wanting to more fully serve, but just couldn't?

Or, perhaps, you sometimes feel that because you have more free time than many of your friends, there is an unspoken assumption that you can serve beyond your capacity to do so. For example, let's suppose that you have spent several hours at a hospital assisting a friend and have just gotten home. You feel weary and a bit anxious, when the phone begins to ring. Will this be yet another request to serve? Again, you may feel a bit frustrated and resentful.

In either case, these feelings of frustration and resentment really aren't serving any purpose in your life. They are, in fact, negative emotions that stand between you and the service you can, at this time, perform. If you can relate to any of what you just read, take some time now to consider how you can best serve God.

First, remember to keep the focus on what is important. God designed us for many specific service roles throughout our lives. We are to be obedient to only Him in the way in which this service is carried out. Seek scripture to learn about the role of service in your life. Please see Serving Others

Second, search your heart right now. What does God want you to do for Him? Maybe, you are very occupied with helping members of your family with their problems. Don't discount this as not serving Him. However, just because your plate is overflowing with needs that have to be filled, you will be called to serve. Don't overlook these opportunities. When possible, open your heart to the needs of others outside your family. Look for the open doors and walk through them. If your service is limited right now, keep in mind that the time will come again, when you can more actively serve in many different capacities.

Third, if you have much free time and enjoy serving, pray and ask God to show you what He has designed for you to do. Even if you have been serving Him in many ways, it's important to check in with Him, frequently, to ensure that you are serving in ways that He deems best.

Fourth, make certain that you continue to take care of your own physical and emotional needs so that you won't burn out. It's always important to set boundaries, so that in your heart, you feel the real joy of giving.

Finally, our hearts are overjoyed when we know that we are doing God's work. There is no better feeling for our overall health than to allow the Holy Spirit to direct us in our actions. By doing so, we see the fruit produced by our obedience. The joy that radiates from your face and spirit will be felt by the children in your life, and they will truly see that you have a heart for Jesus.