Dare to Love
Posted by David and Dianna Wyles February 25th, 2016 2,931 Views 0 Comments
About your heart...
There are many Bible verses discussing the heart because God’s word is clear that the condition of your heart is critical in your walk with the Lord. [Proverbs 4:23] "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." [Proverbs 3:5] "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;" [Mathew 6:21] "for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." [Psalm 51:10] "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
“The heart is an amazing organ. It pumps oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout the body to sustain life. This fist-sized powerhouse beats (expands and contracts) 100,000 times per day, pumping five or six quarts of blood each minute, or about 2,000 gallons per day.” (Web MD) But the heart is more than just a blood pumping organ.
Emotions and the heart
Recent studies show a critical link between the heart and brain has been defined. (HeartMath studies) The heart is in a constant two-way dialogue with the brain — our emotions change the signals the brain sends to the heart and the heart responds in complex ways. However, it has been discovered that the heart sends more information to the brain than the brain sends to the heart, and the brain responds to the heart in many important ways. This research explains how the heart responds to emotional and mental reactions and why certain emotions stress the body and drain our energy. When we experience feelings like anger, frustration, anxiety and insecurity, our heart rhythm patterns become more erratic. These unpredictable patterns are sent to the emotional centers in the brain, which it recognizes as negative or stressful feelings. These signals create the actual feelings we experience in the heart area and the body. The turbulent heart rhythms also block our ability to think clearly. These emotions create a chain reaction in the body — stress hormone levels increase, blood pressure rises, blood vessels constrict and the immune system is weakened. If we consistently experience these emotions, it can put a strain on the heart and other organs, and eventually lead to serious health issues.
On the other hand, we now know that when we experience heart-felt emotions like love, care, appreciation and compassion, the heart produces a very different rhythm. Harmonious heart rhythms, which reflect positive emotions, are considered to be indicators of cardiovascular adeptness and nervous system balance. This sends signals to the brain to relay that the heart feels good and often creates a gentle warm feeling in the area of the heart. Learning to shift out of stressful emotional reactions to these heartfelt emotions can have profound positive effects on the cardiovascular system and on our overall health. It is easy to see how our heart and emotions are linked and how we can shift our heart into a more efficient state by being aware and monitoring its rhythms. (Heart Math Studies)
What does all this mean? It means we can increase our heart health and well-being by simply learning to appreciate. Looking for the positive instead of the negative helps us to focus on all that is good in the world rather than the hurt and pain we may have been handed at some point.
[Philippians 4:7 NIV] "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. "This scripture speaks volumes… not only does God’s peace transcend all understanding, but it helps to guard your health as well. The power of positive thinking can be the healing force to move forward into all that God has planned for you. Our Heavenly father has great plans for a hope and a future in him for each and every one of us. [Jeremiah 29:11] He wants us to trust in him and live in his peace for our own good. [John 14:27] “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
God knows our pain. He sees our tears. He carries us through our dark times. He knows hurt people, hurt people. He is asking us to love anyway! In spite of our pain, in spite of the scrapes and bruises this world can leave, he wants us to live in his love. God’s love is not like the broken love of this world… [1Corinthians 13:4-8] "4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away." I want to know this love! I want to show this love! [Ephesians 4:2] "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
Thankfully Pastor Dion has a plan! As mentioned in January and february's news letter, we have been going through "The Love Dare" together starting February 1st, for forty days! It's not too late if you would like to sign up, please go to this page and you will receive an email for each day of the Love Dare with the lesson. I believe this will be a great lesson! Not only for couples to learn to love each other better but to adapt this knowledge into everyday life and to learn to love even the unlovable! There are so many hurting people in this world and I want to learn how to show them God’s love!
[Philippians 4:8-9] "Here is a last piece of advice. If you believe in goodness and if you value the approval of God, fix your minds on the things which are holy and right and pure and beautiful and good. Model your conduct on what you have learned from me, on what I have told you and shown you, and you will find the God of peace will be with you."
Dianna Wyles
Resources:http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/how-heart-works
https://www.heartmath.org/research/science-of-the-heart/heart-brain-communication/