Arterioles

Have you ever used your concordance to read some or all of the "heart" references in the Bible? Wowzer. There are a ton and a half scriptures with a "heart" focused message.

I reckon this means God is concerned with the state of your heart.

Is it joyously beating for Him?

Is it thump-thumping a rhythm reflective of His unwavering love?

If not, why?

Oftentimes we let other things get inside our hearts and as a result, the proper functioning of the arterioles are messed-up. Big time. Arterioles are the small blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood throughout the body. These micro pathways feed the body with life-giving oxygen.

To alter their function means to starve the body's tissues.

Tissues devoid of oxygen die.

Is that what happens with us?

For instance, if we have a heart that heaves with the unhealed wound(s) of abortion (or abuse or neglect or a myriad of other things), we recognize something is wrong and we try to fix it on our own. Perhaps we don't yet know God (like my story) or we ashamedly turn from Him (like I did even after accepting Jesus into my heart). Either way, here we are all on our own.

How does one fix herself?

Some turn to substance abuse, some turn to self-punishment, while others turn aside and cram it way deep down. I was going to say the latter explains me best, but in actuality, all three coping methods have tangled my heart at one time or another. And in hindsight, now I see how all of it was related to my post-abortion trauma. My unhealed heart. My tormented soul. My disheveled mind.

- substance abuse

Drinking one too many beers or glasses of wine to take the edge off. I blamed it on the alcoholic roots of my family tree. Easily.

- self-punishment

Punishing myself by thinking that every "bad" thing that happened to me was something I deserved. As if it was actually some sort of badge of dishonor I had earned.

- cram it way deep down

Stuffing it into the depths of my soul. Oh, I was so good at that. So good that I soon forgot I was doing it. And this too was discovered once I was healed and was able to look back with clarity. My attitudes and relationships and assumptions about myself and others were tainted with this evil of unforgiveness.

Remember those itty-bitty, life-giving arterioles I talked of earlier?

Those life-giving vessels are akin to His words and promises. In the midst of an attacked heart, those little vessels carry oxygen-rich blood to body tissues. Friends, let God's words and promises do the same for you. Let Him flood those damaged places with Truth and love and forgiveness and redemption. Don't resist as He pumps His healing and renewing through the pathways of your heart. And soul.

You wonder how that big old Book crammed with His Words can heal your broken places. You wonder how God could forgive even you. I know from experience that these are common thoughts. But I am here to tell you that God is an uncommon Healer! All He wants is your heart. He will do the rest. He knows your tissues are starved and are dying.

He will hold your hand. He will heal you from the inside out. He will infiltrate your heart with life-giving Truth and never-ending Love. Ah, but there is one catch--He cannot do it alone. That is right. He cannot do it alone. You must willingly and earnestly seek Him.

Run down the corridors desperately seeking Him and shouting His name. He will hear you.

But from there you will seek the LORD your God,

and you will find Him

if you seek Him

with all your heart

and with all your soul.

~ Deuteronomy 4:29

Run down the corridors until your strength is gone and your heart is thumping wildly against your chest and you fall on your face while your soul is gasping for Him. He will heal and restore you!

You shall love the LORD your God

with all your heart, with all your soul,

and with all your strength.

And these words which I command you today

shall be in your heart.

~ Deuteronomy 6:5-6

Let us humbly pray:

Father God, here we are today. Running to You, The Healer of our hearts and the Restorer of our minds. Fill us with You, Your Truth, Your Love, Your forgiveness. Fill us with all that we need so that our hearts joyously beat for You. Fill us with every single thing that causes our hearts to thump a rhythm reflective of Your unwavering love. Lord, hear the hollers of these precious ones who seek You with their whole hearts and all of their strength. Heal them as only You can. In Jesus' name, Amen.