Wednesday, October 12, 2005

"Blood Pressure Check"

Our hearts are amazing organs. They pump blood to all areas of our bodies, allowing oxygen to flow into our cells and taking carbon dioxide away from those same cells. Heartbeats keep life going in our bodies, and our blood vessels need to be clear and open for the blood to flow through. When we check our blood pressure, it gives us a glimpse into how healthy our hearts are.

"Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me, thought they had seen what I did." (Psalm 95:8-9). The people of God in Moses' time did not have healthy hearts. They had clogged blood vessels and hardened hearts towards the Lord. Although they heard God's voice, they quarreled (the meaning of "Meribah") and they tested God (the meaning of "Massah"). They even saw God's blessings and wonders in the desert, yet they continued to stray away from God.

When we face our desert situations, we, too, have a tendency to doubt and quarrel with each other. We often see only the negatives and the down side of life, and God is not first in our hearts. The Lord is speaking to us today. He is telling us to check our blood pressure! We need to focus on the blessings and wonders that God provides us, even in the desert! If we don't see the joy of our salvation in the desert, it is because we are hardening our hearts towards God! We should always keep our hearts open to God's leading. His voice will soften any hardened arteries we might have. Our blood pressure will return to normal, and our lives will be restored today and always!

Until next time, make it a blessed day,

Pastor Ellen

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