A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
Psalm 51
A clean heart makes an interesting picture for me. Do you see the heart as it is structurally, or as it is pictured in a colored emoji or valentine? Recently I wrote down all the words that came to mind when I was very preoccupied because I was worried about someone, and finding it difficult to concentrate on the work in front of me. Then I drew a large heart around all those words, and I offered all that to Jesus knowing that He remains with us always when we turn to Him with our needs. I will say I felt better was able to return to my work. The worry didn't disappear, but I felt like I shared it with someone who knew it all.
When we have negative and stressful thoughts, our bodies can react with either a fight or flight response. The adrenal hormones in our bodies are there to protect us, but it is good for us to think about how often we feel stressed and how our bodies react to a stressfull situation so we can recognize when we do not need to protect ourselves and instead need to relax and take a minute to slow down. Draw a heart today, either anatomically if you are so gifted, or simply like a Valentine, and place your intentions in it, and offer it up to God. I hope it helps you as it did me.
