Heart Check-Up
My daughter, Rachel, has been doing a new type of physical therapy for the last several months. It’s called Block Therapy, and it entails the use of a wooden block, gravity, and body weight to “melt” through the twisted and misplaced fascia within the body, thus allowing the bones and muscles to align properly and to function well. It’s a fascinating process, and we are thankful that the Lord brought it to us.
I’ve been doing the therapy with Rachel, so I can understand and help her better, but also for my own benefit. Deanna, the creator of this therapy, guides us through a daily program of positions and exercises. As we settle into each new position, she reminds us to breathe deeply through the nose, using our diaphragm muscles. “The breath is the engine,” she says frequently.
As we release tension and breathe clean oxygen into those twisted and weary muscles, an interesting phenomenon takes place. The muscles begin to twitch and shake involuntarily. Blood flow increases, oxygen fills the atrophied muscle, and suddenly life finds its way there!
As this process happened to Rachel’s feet—which is absolutely amazing!—I began to think of the spiritual object lesson that I was seeing. When we allow the Holy Spirit (often represented by breath in the Bible) to have full reign and control in our lives, we find that He uses us as instruments—channels—to accomplish His will. We don’t really have to muster up a light or try really hard to be salt. We just naturally are those things as a result of the transformation that God has accomplished in us through salvation and the indwelling of his Spirit.
But sin is like that twisted, misplaced fascia. It cuts off our supply of Spirit-oxygen, which in turns atrophies our spiritual muscles. Then we become weak and ineffective, and often wonder if we are truly even saved.
So why do we allow sin to remain in us? Repentance and confession are such an important part of the Christian life, but many of us overlook them or think that they only need to happen once, at salvation. In reality, we need to keep our sin accounts short. Confess daily to the Lord, so our relationship with Him can stay vibrant and warm.
I John 1 teaches us that when we are in fellowship with God, we are in His light. As you know, light makes living so much easier! Have you ever tried to do the dishes in the dark? Or chop onions? Or put away the laundry? When we are out of fellowship with God, it’s like living our spiritual lives in darkness. Or, as in the case of our Block Therapy example, trying to function without oxygen. And that just won’t work.
When we keep ourselves in the dark by not confessing our sin, we deceive ourselves into believing that we are in the light, when actually just the opposite is true. We think we’re doing fine, but in reality, we are removing ourselves further and further from God and His truths.
Most of the time, we know that we have sinned as soon as it happens. Words fly out of our mouth without thinking, and immediately we know, "I should not have said that!" Or we make a clearly unbiblical choice. Maybe our response to our spouse or our children's disobedience is less than godly. But are we ever unaware of sin in our lives? Scripture says yes. Read Psalm 19:12-13:
"Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.”
Things like wrong attitudes, wrong thinking, and even wrong choices and actions can sometimes creep into our lives without our recognizing it. The problem is that those “small” sins violate God’s holiness, just as the “large” sins do. And “small” sins never stay small. They grow and branch out until they infect every part of our lives.
“But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.” (James 1:14-16)
The book of James gives us several areas of sin to consider. Remember we all have blind spots that Satan loves to target in order to compromise our effectiveness. Here’s a list, taken from a quick scan of the first chapter:
How is my attitude about the hardships in life? Am I trusting God to do what is best for me?
Do I obey God by faith or try to obey through my own will-power?
Do I recognize temptation in my heart and take steps to overcome it through the Holy Spirit’s power? Or do I let it grow and fester until it becomes a huge problem in my life?
Am I swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath? Or am I just the opposite?
Do I meekly receive instruction from God’s Word, and then obey?
Is my tongue Spirit-controlled or out of control?
Do I practice “true religion” by helping to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the lowliest among us? Or am I too busy with my own agenda?
Years ago my mother-in-law (also affectionately known as my mother-in-love) gave each of her daughters a devotional tool, which I still use today. It is a small notebook with sections marked off for prayer, Bible study, encouragement, Bible memory, and sermon notes. In the section for prayer is a subdivision for confession, including a "Heart Check-up" for each day of the week. These gentle reminders have often helped me check myself against God’s standards. He uses them to reveal to me areas in which I am weak or blinded. May they be a help to you, as well.
Sunday - Concerning my goals
Have I made clear goals for my life? Am I making the right choices to achieve those goals? (Prov. 14:22, Phil. 3:13-14)
When I stand at the judgment seat of Christ, what will I wish that I had done for Him in this year? (II Cor. 5:10, 14-15)
Monday - Concerning forgiveness
Is there anyone I ought to forgive? (Matt. 6:14-15)
Is there someone I have offended from whom I should seek forgiveness? (Matt. 5:23-24)
Tuesday - Concerning personal discipline
How well do I submit to correction? (Prov. 15:31)
In what areas have I failed to discipline myself? Have I been faithful about my ordinary duties? (Prov. 15:31, Luke 15:10)
Wednesday - Concerning others
Have I been patient with the short-comings and failures of others? (Rom. 15:1)
When others are unreasonable, how do I respond? (Matt. 5:44-48)
How careful have I been with the reputation of others? (Prov. 11:13)
Am I as loving and patient with my own family as I am with others? (James 3:9-13)
Thursday - Concerning personal responsibilities
Am I spending enough time in the Word, so that the Lord is my intimate Friend and Counselor? (Phil. 3:10)
Have I been faithful in my attendance and responsibilities at church? (Heb. 10:24-25)
Have I let my love for material things hamper my spiritual growth? (I John 2:15-17)
Friday - Concerning self-control
Is my tongue truly under control? (James 3:5-6)
Have I let impure thoughts creep into my mind which will lead me to impurity of soul and body? (Mark 7:20-23)
Have I been using my time wisely, balancing work, leisure, and my obligations to my family? (Ps. 90:12)
Saturday - Concerning my witness
Am I faithfully sharing the Gospel with others? (II Cor. 5:19-20)
Do I make others hungry for salvation by my honest conduct and lovingkindness? (Titus 2:10)
I am sure you could think of others areas to examine, other questions to ask, but this is a great start! What else would you add to this list? What has God already pointed out in your life that you need to confess and change today?
As with Block Therapy, confession is not a one-and-done deal. We each must examine our hearts daily. It may take time for our atrophied spiritual muscles to regain their strength and vitality. Keep at it! As we fill our minds with the nutrition of God’s Word and allow the oxygen of the Spirit to reach the darkened corners of our hearts, He will transform us into effective servants for His glory.