When you are experiencing pain in your chest and you drive to the hospital, you will immediately have an EKG done on you. The Electrocardiogram shows the rhythm that your heart is going through. The EKG will show any irregularities that your heart has which is being caused by deeper problems.
Have you ever taken a spiritual EKG? David requested from God, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)
God described himself as the one responsible for examining your heart, “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:10)
These 4 warning signs will let you know if you’re having spiritual heart problems.
1. You’ve stopped rejoicing when others get blessed.
You could describe this as jealousy. You know that feeling you get when your neighbor pulls into their driveway and they got that new Ford Bronco. Remember that sick feeling you got in your gut when your coworker got the praise and not you?
You can overcome this by choosing to praise God for other’s blessings. You can pray for God to bless others in a specific way and then rejoice because God answered your prayers!
2. You’ve stopped giving when you hear that others have a need.
One word to describe this is greed. You have so much. You have Netflix, unlimited data on your phone, drive thru food whenever you want, and so many clothes in your closet you wouldn’t have to do laundry for a month. Yet, for some reason when a need came up you found an excuse to not give.
God instructs us to give to protect us from greed. Jesus told us that where our treasure is there will our heart be also. Overcome greed by choosing to give. Satan will try to use the blessing of your job against you by making you think you don’t have enough. Give your tithe to your local church – 10% of your income. Give spontaneously to others around you in need.
3. You’re more concerned with pleasing a person than God.
Have you ever felt guilty when somebody asked you to serve in a ministry or at the Parent/Teacher meeting and you genuinely had to say no because you’re overwhelmed with so many activities in your life? Jesus described His work like this…“My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Concern yourself with pleasing God. Your judgment seat of Christ is not before a panel of jurors consisting of your parents, peers, and pastors. Your judgment seat of Christ in eternity is before God. Please Him.
4. You find yourself exploding at situations that are small and insignificant.
Have you ever walked away from a conversation wondering why you just blew your top at that person? They asked a simple, innocent question but you took it personally and ripped into them with all your wrath. Maybe you had a bad day at work and you came home and took it out on your children.
Proverbs 16:32 “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”
You need to take time to process what is going on behind the scenes. Ask yourself, how did that feel when that person criticized me for the 3rd time today? Ask God for His presence and power to deal with hurts and pain. Talk to a godly friend and get their counsel.
