Heart Transplant Recipient After-Care

We give God our old stony hearts and he gives us new ones in return. How well do we follow his heart recepient after-care protocol?

Psalms 51:10 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

Several years ago, a friend received the gift of a new heart after decades of failing health. Every year she celebrates her new life and all of those who love her celebrate along with her. We are so glad she is still here with us. I learned a few things from my friend’s journey.

Rigorous screening awaits potential heart transplant recipients. Those who pass the medical gauntlet find themselves on a long waiting list. Their old heart may fail them before a suitable match can be found. Mandatory counselling is part of the process. Potential recipients must understand tremendous lifestyle changes must be implemented if their new hearts are to settle in comfortably into their new home.

Some will need to alter their diets, drastically accelerate their activity levels, and learn to manage stress. Every heart transplant recipient must follow a strict daily regimen of anti-rejection drugs and other medications for the rest of their lives.

If the heart recipient lived with a diseased heart for a long time, they will have to overcome fear-based bad habits and believe their new heart will carry the load of living an active, full life. They’ll need to take a deep breath and plunge into the freedom they never knew or the freedom they forgot ever existed. They’ll be expected ,to live their lives fully – as a participant – and not just as a spectator.

Ezekiel 36:26 – “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

God is in the supernatural heart transplant business. He removes our diseased stony hearts and replaces them with strong, pliable hearts that beat in syncopation with his. Unlike the earthly medical profession, he doesn’t screen potential recipients. If we go through Jesus, we are all accepted! There is no waiting list. He gives new hearts to all who would ask. No strings attached. He paid the price, covered our medical bills, and blessed us with new life.

Personal Application

So, how are we treating our new hearts?

Do we abuse them by consuming artery-clogging anger, resentment, and bitterness?

Do we ingest spiritual junk food through vending machines of risque Netflix binge-fests, romance novels, and disturbing films?

Are we following God’s healthy diet plan of Bible reading, fellowship, and prayer?

Do we allow timidity and anxiety to hold us back from experiencing and tasting all he has given us that is good?

Are we enjoying life? Do we exude joy, peace and happiness? When people look at us, even amid our difficulties, do they say, “I want what they have?”

Let’s live abundantly! Run the good race and be confident! Our new hearts will take us through to the end. Let’s flourish as we follow God’s prescribed regime for transplant after-care.

1 Peter 1:5-7 -“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.”

Take full advantage of the opportunities your new heart gives you. No holding back! You were created to live a life that is active, vibrant, glowing, robust, and energized!

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All Bible verses attributed to the ESV version unless otherwise indicated.

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Until Next Week,

©2020 Katherine Walden

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