How to Prevent a Heart Attack

So I went to the doctor on Monday to have my yearly physical. Can I be honest? It’s not one of my favorite things to do. You get on the scale (the two of us have never been friends, by the way), there’s bloodwork involved, and the necessary ear, throat and heart check. However, when I finished the exam, my doctor shared something new with me. He told me that, after the blood work was completed, they will call me and – based on the results – will actually be able to give me a rough estimate of the chances of my having a heart attack within the next 10 years. Wait. What? Well, long story short, I came in at 1.6% (one of the few times I was thrilled with not scoring a 100% on an exam, by the way). 🙂

I drove away from that exam thinking about life, life choices and the small daily decisions we make that can have an impact on our long-term health and bodies. However, can I take it a little further? As necessary as it is to take care of our physical temples, there’s also a necessity to care for our spiritual lives and hearts as well. If I am going to be honest, I believe that, daily, we have a 100% chance of experiencing a spiritual “heart attack.” I would define that as any time the enemy seeks to take our hearts and replace the goodness God has given to us – the mercy, the grace, the forgiveness – with chaos, fear and uncertainty.

So what’s the recipe to prevent spiritual “heart attacks” on a daily basis? I think Paul gives us a good direction on that front:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:16-18)

First? Rejoice, always. It may not feel like there’s anything to rejoice in the Lord about today, but don’t fall for that lie of the enemy. There’s always something to be said about rejoicing in the Lord. Your circumstances may not be a lot to rejoice over, but here’s the thing: God is on the throne. Christ came to break chains. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom, and even in the darkest night, the light of Christ is always there to break through. So, rejoice! Second, pray continually. Never hesitate to lift a prayer and talk to your Heavenly Father. There’s no matter too small and no issue so insignificant that your Abba Father doesn’t want to hear from you. Journal those prayers. Speak them out loud. Give them to the Lord. He wants to hear them all. Third, give thanks in all circumstances. Sometimes, even the hardest days can be changed when you look toward the blessings God has placed in your life and give thanks. Perhaps it’s a friend God has placed alongside you. Reach out. Let them know! Write a letter. Send a note! There’s great power in a heartfelt “thank you.”

So, whatever this day presents to you, friend, take this three-fold recipe and add it to your to-do list for the day: Rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks.

Grace and peace, friends.