As many of you know, five years ago, this summer, I suffered from 3 major heart attacks that left only 50% of my heart. The damage to my heart left my heart unable to synchronize the blood pumping process. I now have a permanent uncoordinated heartbeat known as ventricular fibrillation. Also, five years ago on this Labor Day weekend I preached my first message after the Doctor had implanted a cardio re-stabilization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) that can shock my heart back into a normal rhythm, and synchronize it and slow the pace of it, to allow it not to overwork. As a result of the permanent damage to my heart, my physical heart does not allow for much effective physical labor. Although, it would be great to have an undamaged heart that allowed me to labor more easily physically, I am much more concerned with keeping my spiritual heart healthy and laboring for the Lord. All of us need to take time to ask ourselves some questions that will help us to synchronize our own hearts for effective labor for the Lord.

There are 4 questions that we can ask ourselves to help with the evaluation process.

The first one is: Is our heart open to obeying the Word of God?

Let’s turn to our first passage of scripture in James 1: 22 – 25.

The second one is: Is our heart generating good works?

Now look over at our next passage of scripture in James 2: 14 – 23.

The third one is: Is our heart laboring for the Lord with all its strength?

Remember the command of the Lord given to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 6: 4-5?

The 4th & final question we can ask is: Is our heart laboring for the Lord in joy? Turn to Matthew 13: 44 – 46.

As our spiritual hearts help our physical bodies to labor in a synchronized and well-paced fashion, I want to remind you of something Paul said in II Thessalonians 3:13

If we will focus on our love relationship with God, we will not grow weary in doing good. Our hearts will be able to easily obey His Word, and do good works with all our strength. We will have joy in our labor efforts for the Lord.