While waiting for my appointment with a surgeon, I decided to take my pulse. It was beating slowly, well within the normal limits. Suddenly the nurse called my name and directed me to a consultation room. After being seated she took my blood pressure - which was well above normal - which is unusual for me. Then she placed two fingers on my wrist to take my pulse. From the waiting room to the consultation room my heart rate increased twenty beats per minute. Fear got the best of my peaceful heart.

There is a direct connection with our emotional well-being and our physical well-being. When what was a fear of the unknown - the possibility of surgery - was about to become known, when faced with that reality, my fear could actually be measured!

The “heart” is much more than a muscle in the Bible. It is the center of our being: the source of our thoughts, our emotions, where decisions are made, problems are solved and choices sorted out. According to Scripture, the heart affects every part of our life - positively or negatively.

Solomon understood that and wisely wrote, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the body.” It is obvious from what Solomon wrote and what science has confirmed that our emotional - or inner - state greatly impacts body.

Notice the impact of “envy.” It’s an emotion we all deal with. For some, the desire to want something that God has not given us can become so intense that it has the same results as cancer - it eats away life. Beware of envy.

Prayer:  Grant us peace, Lord, to be content with what You give us and accept all things with grateful hearts. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 14:30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

Years ago my office was in located in a building that was designed for a physician and his staff. We had many productive discussions about how best to meet the needs of patients who were struggling with the issues of life.
Prayer:  Lord, the solution for each problem we have is in Your Word. May we accept and follow Your ways! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Bear Bryant, the legendary football coach, was once informed that some of his players were griping and complaining about his strenuous workouts. Calling the team into their locker room he said quietly and with confidence, “Men, you can’t live soft all week and play tough on Saturday.”

Success in any athletic endeavor requires self-sacrifice and tough training routines. It conditions the athlete to endure fatigue and outlast the competition. It is often the difference between winning and losing, victory and defeat.

Paul often referred to the importance of physical training and winning. He was aware of its value. But in a letter to Timothy he established an important priority for Christians. “Physical exercise has some value,” he wrote, “but spiritual exercise is much more important for it promises a reward in both this life and the one to come.”

We spend much money on physical fitness. In fact, one major research firm in America estimated that as a nation, we spend five billion dollars annually on fitness programs and exercise equipment. Although physical health in very important we must always make spiritual health our main priority. Each day that we live we must invest some time in reading and studying His Word, in prayer and worshiping Him. God expects us to develop our “spiritual muscles” to overcome evil.

Prayer: Help us, Lord, to accept our responsibility to develop our spiritual resources by allowing Your power to work with us. May our faith grow stronger each day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: 2 Timothy 4:8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.