Monday, September 8, 2008

Check-up Time

Have you had a check up lately? There are two categories of people, those who stay on top of their yearly check-ups going faithfully every year, and those who only step foot inside the doctor when something is definitely broken. They wear the t-shirts that say ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it!’

I have to wonder how I handle my "check-ups" with God. Am I going to the "check-ups"? Do I acknowledge when God is examining me? Do I embrace conviction?

Am I seeking out preventative care? Do I wait until something is evidently broken to call out to Him for fixin?

So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.' So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.’ " Hebrews 3:7-11


God is concerned with the health of our hearts. Is there something that is keeping your heart unhealthy? Hardened? What things have hardened your heart? When our hearts harden we have a much harder time hearing Him whisper to our hearts. What whispers have you been missing from Him?


"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." Jeremiah 17:10


May we spend some time allowing Him to give our hearts a "check-up"!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Off to my scheduled morning check-up. God I pray that I don't just pay the co-pay and continue to live my life my way. Let me research your diagnosis, help me to be obedient. Cleanse me so I can feel your healing powers. Thank-You for sharing such perspectives that I have to listen...Love You

Krista said...

You know, I have really been impressed today by the encouragement I have found at my favorite blogs. Each of them seem to really touch me specifically where I need them. God is Good!

Eager for a check-up,
Krista

The Patterson 5 said...

Thanks for the reminder to really tune into the most important check up for my spiritual health. May I be willing to obey His commands so I can be at peace.

Kelly said...

Oh my! I am "religious" in going to my earthly check ups - but perhaps not so religious about my religous checkups! WOW!

Thanks for the cool insight. Loved it.

Sonya Lee Thompson said...

I do go to the OBGYN and the dermatologist every 6 mos! (Thanks to being fair skinned, I've already had skin cancer twice!)

As far as God's check-ups, I hope I'm listening and learning! I try to be aware of His whispers, but I know of times when I've become angry at someone and that's when I tend to harden my heart!

The other day, I was just angry at the way the kids were acting and things just kept going wrong, when my daughter said, "Mom, can you please pray?", I asked her why, thinking something was wrong with her but she meekly replied, "because you haven't been very nice!" OUCH! She was right! So I said, "YES!" and i prayed right there, and you know God softened my heart at that moment to hear His loving correction. After that I was happy once again.

Loved this post!

Love,
Sonya

Tracy said...

Amen! Needed the reminder today!
;o}

Kristen said...

Wonderful analogy! Preventative care! Amen!

Joy Junktion said...

Well, interestingly enough, I was at my PCP today.
Thank you for reminding me that I also need to visit my GOD daily.
Blessings, Cindy

Lisa said...

Hey Nichole!
Oh my...so sorry about this email mix-up!!! Dare I ask if you want to try to send to me, again?

Lisa :)

LeeBird3 said...

God does heart surgery on me regularly! And...he gave you to me to bless my heart. Love you friend, Lee

ThreeGirlyGirls said...

What a great message! Our preacher talks about needing to have spiritual surgery quite often!! Get rid of all the yuck!

I'm a total don't go unless somethings wrong kinda girl! Gotta change that!! =)

Sue J. said...

I'm dealing with 2 hardened heart issues right now. One is someone else's. The other is my ability to pray for this someone else's hard heart. And it's been all too easy to blow off this regular checkup!

But, God has been calling me back to it, and your post affirms His calling to me. Thanks!

P.S. This someone else uses a different "toothbrush" and blows off the dentist, even though the real Toothbrush is present in the home....to borrow from your next post. Hard to get them in for an appointment....