Catharsis Is Pure, Part 2

Cathartic heart surgery can purify the heart physically. There is also a spiritual catharsis that can purify the heart spiritually.

Proverbs 4:23 says: “Above all else, guard your heart, for out of it are the issues of life.” In other words, everything you do flows from your heart. It is the source of true life. Out of it is the wellspring (outgoings) of life. It determines if the whole body is healthy or not. It protects our inner core, the emotions, thoughts, will, choices, words.

Physically, there can be a blocking of the blood flow by hardening of the arteries called atherosclerosis. It can lead to congestive heart failure. Also, there can be heart murmurs.

Spiritually, there can be hardening of the spiritual life. Often this occurs when we hear God’s words but do not really listen, accept, receive, respond or welcome them.

Ironically, God can choose to melt our hearts. Sometimes it is a slow internal work, often invisible. It can move into our deepest secret places. Yet, His words can alleviate the ache. Nothing ever can separate us from His love.

Have you noticed humanly we do guard what is valuable to us? Notice how today we are surrounded with security of all kinds – fences, patrolmen, surveillance systems, alarms, cameras.

Spiritually, our guard fence (protection) against our tear-downs of anger, pride, temptation is found in Philippians 4:8. This is our focus on the true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy**.**We grow to love what God loves! Catharsis has entered our world.