Your Heart.

The heart of a blue whale weighs 1000 pounds.

That's half a ton.

That's a lot.

If someone has ever called you "big-hearted," I don't think they were talking about this kind of big heart.

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Hearts are important to God. He is all about the condition of our hearts. At some point in your life-journey, you must decide if you are going to live your life for God or for you. You basically have to decide to say...

"I will set aside some time for God each day to examine my

life, read my Bible, and pray so that I have the power to live God's way."

It's one thing to say "Yes" to this...it's another to say "Yes" to the action-life it requires.

It is a crossroads and a conscious decision has to be made.

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Shocker of shockers, I know, but the condition of your heart really plays into this decision. Here's a little test you can do to test your "heart-condition."

1. Is your heart healthy or hurting?

It may be able to hide our hurts, but when our hearts are hurting, it's hard to love others. So does your heart feel strong and vigorous? Or are you feeling aches and stings?

2. Is your heart eager or exhausted?

Are you too tired to spend time with God? Are you not interested in showing love to others? If so, spend a few minutes alone with God asking him to change and renew your heart. During that time, ask him to reveal what might be causing this exhaustion. You might be surprised with what comes up.

3. Is your heart abundantly loving or angry?

Think back to everything you've said today...including your body language. What was the tone? What was your intent? What were the actual words? Are you easily angered when you see certain people?

What we say to others is a huge indicator to the condition of our hearts. Check out Matthew 12:35 for more on that.

4. Is your heart refreshed or resentful?

When you evaluate your heart, is there an event from your past that still bothers you? Is there something that keeps you from sleeping or growing in your relationship with God? That's a sign of resentment. For health to emerge, you need to be refreshed. Growing Christians get this from spending time in God's Word and with Him. Check out Philippians 4:6.

5. Is your heart tender or tense?

How do you feel about other people? Do you care what happens to them? Are you interested in telling them about ways God can help? Your response can tell you if your heart is tender or tense.

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Romans 12:3-17 gives us some good reasons on why it's important to take time to evaluate our hearts and lives. "Be honest in your estimate of yourselves...hate what is wrong...stand on the side of good...love each other...be patient in trouble...do things in such a way that people can see that you are honorable."

Reflecting on God's goodness and grace (see the previous post about grace) can be instant heart "tenderizer." And we all need that from time to time. It helps us decide (on a daily basis) who we will live for...ourselves, or God.

I hope and pray you choose to live for God every single day.