It's A Heart Issue

I spent the entire day and night yesterday (June 12) in the labor and delivery room with my daughter and son-in-law and left early this morning (June 13) after helping little Anne Elizabeth safely into this world from the security of her mother’s womb.

Each time I experience the delivery process (either first hand with my two or with our daughter’s) I am in awe of the power and mighty hand of our God. As they laid little Anne on her mother’s chest after delivery it is unfathomable to me how she could have “fit” inside her belly just a few moments ago!

There was a scare during labor. Anne’s heart rate dropped considerably and immediately a team of medical professionals rushed in to deal with the crisis. We all knew the heart rate was not where it needed to be and something needed to be done ASAP in order to make sure she survived the trauma and distress she was in. As a result of their intervention, before too long, the heart rate was steady and strong and labor continued.

As I reflect on that incident (and a few others during the long labor process) I am reminded of how we, as Christ followers, must come to the aid of those whose hearts are in crisis; those whose hearts are dropping away from God and into the pit of self and sin. Do you know someone who is having an unhealthy or emotional relationship with a married co-worker or friend? Do you know a child or teenager who is doing ungodly or unethical or potentially dangerous things? Do you know people in your church who are critical and/or negative or stirring up strife? Do you know someone who is addicted to prescription drugs? If so, these people, and countless others, have hearts that are in need of someone to intervene and help deal with their heart issue.

Often we are fearful to speak up…fearful to intervene….fearful to point out heart issues. The enemy for sure does not want us to. He fools us into thinking 'it is none of our business' and ‘who are we to say something, after all we are not perfect’ or some such lie as that. Yes, we must make sure that the ‘log is out of our own eye’ and we must be covered in much prayer before we come to the aid of someone with a serious heart issue…but come to the aid we must! It is critical! The Body of Christ will not be healthy unless we deal with the crisis’ we see in our midst.

How grateful I am that the doctors and nurses who were aware of baby Anne’s heart problem did not hesitate to run to her rescue for fear of getting involved or too busy to stop what they were doing or felt incompetent to deal with the critical concern. How thankful I am for those who have come to my rescue when my heart was sick with rationalization and with self and with sin! May our churches be full of people whose heartbeats are healthy and strong and beat for only One!!