“For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean’. ” – Holy Bible (St Mark 7:21-23)
I AM INFORMED that open-heart surgery is a risky but necessary action, especially for those suffering from certain critical heart-related issues.
Last week in writing about the reality of heart disease, I identified two hearts that govern human beings, one being physical and the other “inner” or spiritual. The former pumps blood to all parts of the body, while the latter contains components such as our thoughts, emotions as well as purpose, which may affect how the human being functions in life. Both hearts are subject to diseases of different kinds, which can severely frustrate the effective way that they were design to operate.
In this case, open-heart surgery may therefore become necessary. A definition provided by Health Line states: “Open heart surgery is any type of surgery where the chest is cut open and surgery is performed on the muscles, valves, or arteries of the heart.” Of course, that definition relates to the physical heart. The big question is: Can open-heart surgery be performed on the “inner heart” with specific references to the thoughts and associated matters?
In last week’s article, I mentioned that the greatest “inner” Heart Specialist, Jesus Christ, identified 13 symptoms that speak of a diseased “inner heart”. The deadly disease which I identified last week as “sin” (a missing of the correct way) is hereditary in nature and affects as well as infects every human being. Submitting to the “inner heart” surgeon’s skilful hands is the only effectively way to counteract these 13 symptoms. Today I shall deal with the first symptom – evil thoughts.
In the absence of traumatic situations or serious mental health issues, evil thoughts can regularly present themselves in one fashion or another. You cannot permanently prevent them from coming to your mind; however, you can decide whether or not you want to have them control your life. You can make a choice to frustrate them when they attack and be victorious over them.
Allowing evil thoughts to influence the decisions you make, may cause you to harm yourself or other individuals.
The “inner heart” specialist does not swap the “inner heart” but instead He performs the kind of “open-heart surgery”, where He renews the damaged main “artery”, the mind, and gives you the power to defeat those evil thoughts when they attack. This kind of surgical procedure is recorded in Romans 12:1-2. Three important things are necessary in order for the surgery to be effective:
1. A decision to present yourself for surgery;
2. A decision to submit yourself for surgery;
3. A decision to maintain a healthy lifestyle after surgery.
Presenting Yourself For Surgery:
The Amplified Bible, in Romans 12, speaks about “presenting all your members and faculties” in order for the procedure to take place. With this kind of surgery, like any other, you cannot send anyone else to get it done for you. This is personal. You alone have to appear before the surgeon to have it dealt with.
Years ago, when I was diagnosed with a serious physical problem, I knew that my wife, sons or friends could not go to surgery on my behalf. I had to make up my mind to have it done.
I like what Theodore Roosevelt said: “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” I made the decision to do the right thing and I am alive today because of it.
The mind can be like a war zone, with all kinds of evil thoughts seeking to penetrate in an attempt to destroy your life. The right thing to do is to allow the “inner heart” Surgeon to rectify it for you. Approach Him for yourself by faith and be informed that His work is free but not cheap.
Submitting Yourself For Surgery:
I would never have a physical open-heart surgery performed if I do not feel confident in the ability of the heart surgeon. It’s even graver, especially when it comes to the dealings of my “inner heart”. Submission to the surgeon would be based on a very high level of trust. The aforementioned Romans passage speaks of the surgeon performing a procedure of renewing the mind through a method called “transformation”.
The word transform is the same word for the process by which a caterpillar is changed into a butterfly. With our permission, the “inner heart” specialist, Jesus Christ, can perform that surgical procedure and help us to be more effective in warding off the vicious attacks of evil thoughts. I have proven it to be true.
Deciding To Maintain A Healthy Lifestyle After Surgery:
After any form of surgery, adopting a healthy lifestyle is crucial. The Romans 12 chapter also states that if the “inner heart” is to be kept healthy, then adopting morally good habits (what is good); practising what God accepts (what is acceptable); and actively seeking out God’s plan for your life (will of God) are of paramount importance.
Adopting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, as far as your thoughts are concerned, requires ongoing discipline if the benefits associated with follow-up “inner heart” surgery is to be realised.
Author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar once said: “Discipline should lead to powerful habits of direction, work and good judgment. Good discipline produces strength, not weakness; creativity, not banality; responsibility, not self-indulgence.”
Also develop positive thoughts that have the ability to drive away those negative unhealthy thoughts which have a tendency to create a potential for all kinds of damaging diseases within the mind. Willie Nelson made an important statement when he remarked: “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.”
* Reverend Haynesley Griffith is a marriage and family life consultant. Email griffitharticles@gmail.com .
