Proverbs 4:23 – “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
Did you know that heartstrings isn’t just a term associated with emotions but is an actual part of our physical body? Physical heartstrings are fibrous tendons in our heart that function as structural supports. They prevent blood from flowing backward during each heartbeat. As amazing as God’s physical design for our bodies is, the area of emotions is as well! In fact, the heart is such an important topic to God that the Bible references this word over 750–1000 times.
I myself am very much a heart person. There is a good portion of the head and logic side to me… but my heart tends to overrule. It seems in today’s world my heartstrings tend to be pulling left and right, even backward, instead of beating and moving forward.
“Heartstrings”
One string pulling here
Another string over there
One pulls from the inside
As the outside retreats…
Slowly moves…
And then runs, plunging headfirst!
Not even waiting for a sign
A stop sign!
To wait… breathe deep… and just pray!
Praying first, then stepping into what He is saying
Into what He thinks
And where all wisdom flows
Holy Spirit thoughts — right decisions
Not wearing what the world is saying
Not joining with what the world is doing
But checking in with ultimate Truth!
Where my true identity syncs
Hearing my DNA sing
Watching my spirit glow
Plugged in… tuned in
To the One who knows me inside and out
Not carrying the weight of the world
But only what He has for me!
Heartstrings is usually referenced as expressing that inward pull or tug causing feelings of strong emotions, sympathy, or compassion for someone or something. Unfortunately, the toxicity in our world can leave our emotions in a tailspin, filling us with unwanted junk and leading us in the wrong direction. It can get us off task from God’s good plans and assignments that He has for us.
Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”
About a week ago I had the privilege of having a sit-down session with my mentor. I shared that lately I felt like a fire truck trying to put out multiple fires. I felt pulled every which way but loose, but the truth is some of the fires I encountered were not meant for me to put out and needed to be harnessed and checked in. I also shared with her there seem to be so many distractions and heartstring pulls, and they somehow have multiplied. She said, “It’s so important to stop first… and then pray, asking the Lord, is this just a distraction or a God interruption?”
Big difference! Not the world’s direction but His direction. Not the world’s distractions but His interruptions and divine appointments!
Now more than ever we need the Holy Spirit to be the one pulling our heartstrings, multiplying those beautiful God tugs and heart hugs as we abide closer with Him.
I pray Christ will rule our days as His precious blood flows through us and just like our physical heartstrings, may it move us forward, not backward, with every heartbeat and His good plans.
