Heart-healthy
(The Lord said,) I wish their hearts would always respect me and that they would always obey my commands so that things would go well for them and their children forever! ~ Deuteronomy 5:29 (NCV)
Your hearts should be strengthened by God’s grace... ~ Hebrews 13:9 (NCV)
Gracious God, you are concerned about the well-being of our hearts. You want us to develop strong hearts. That is why you have given us your directions for life and filled us with your grace so that we can follow them. You have given us everything that we need. I confess, though, that sometimes I am so distracted by things I want, that I neglect what you have already given to me. Don't give up on me, please. Keep nudging me forward so that I can live a heart-healthy life. Amen.
Challenging Words
- hearts -- In the Bible the heart is the internal organ which represents and controls the human will. It is the center of the soul, controlling the mind, affections, and body.
- well-being -- good health
- nudging -- gently pushing
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
