What would he hear?

Woosha woosha woosha woosha. Woosha woosha woosha woosha.  

It was one of my favorite parts of my monthly doctor’s visit. Even before I felt pregnant, and certainly before I looked it, I’d raise my shirt and expose my non-existent belly so the doctor could listen to my baby’s heartbeat. 

After a pregnant pause, the ultrasound device he used would begin its rhythmic sound projection, and I would smile. “That’s a good strong heartbeat on that little boy,” my doctor would pronounce. A month later he’d listen again. “That little girl sounds like she’s exercising in there,” he’d say, completely oblivious to the fact that he’d just contradicted his earlier prediction. I realized that while the Doppler device was very helpful to confirm that my baby’s heart was beating, it was almost useless for other diagnostics. 

As I look back on those doctor visits, I think about my own heart. And about yours. If someone listened to our hearts, what would he hear? 

Would he hear a heart that is sold out to Jesus? Paul had one. He often referred to his love for God, whom he served “with his whole heart.” 

Would he hear a heart that is sensitive when God convicts us of sin? The Jews at Pentecost had one. “When they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Would he hear a heart that is pure? Jesus said the pure of heart would see God (Mat. 5:8). 

Would he hear a heart that deeply pondered the things of God? Mary had one. She “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). 

Would he hear a heart that is willing to invest some of this world’s resources to gather eternal ones? Jesus observed, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Mt 6:21. Would he hear a heart committed to peacemaking and unity? The believers of the early church were of “one in heart and mind” (Acts 4:32). 

Would he hear a heart that speaks with gentleness, kindness, goodness, and self-control? “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” says Matthew 12:34. 

Would he hear a heart that is good and noble, eager to learn God’s word, apply it, and let it work its way out through our lives? “But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop” (Luke 18:15). 

Would he hear a heart that doesn’t despair when difficulties come, but rests in whom it has believed? Those suffering for the gospel’s sake had hearts like this. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16). 

And finally, would he hear a heart so full of God’s love that it bubbles out for all to hear? Paul encouraged the Ephesians to have this kind of heart. “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). 

How's your heart today? If you're missing some of the most important components of spiritual heart health, go to the Great Physician. Confess your need, and commit to do what he tells you.

“Let us, therefore, draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water,” (Hebrews 10:22). 

And above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23). 





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