VOMC’s
Heart Health Challenge

“As in water face reflects face,
so the heart of man reflects the man.”
~ Proverbs 27:19 ESV

A new year is quickly approaching, and for the staff at VOMC, the 2024 Heart Health Challenge is about to begin! Our inspiration comes from Proverbs 4:23, which says, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (AMP). Maintaining a healthy heart is not just a spiritual practice, but a physical one too. With this in mind, each of our VOMC staff members have committed to engaging in activities during the coming year that will cultivate a healthy heart.

Theologian A.W. Pink wrote, “An honest heart is open to the Word.” God trains and directs His people through His Word; yet, even more importantly, He uses it to reveal the truth of His Son, Jesus Christ. As the Word of God is also necessary for Godly living, and therefore an essential aspect of every disciple’s life, it behooves Christ’s followers to immerse themselves daily in it. After all, to be open to the Word requires one to be delving in the Word. Acknowledging this truth, the members of VOMC’s ministry team have pledged to read the entire Bible in one year, with the expectation of strengthening their spiritual hearts by better understanding and more diligently obeying His Word.

The next part of the challenge addresses the physical aspects of heart health. Gene Tunney, an American professional boxer who competed from 1915 to 1928, said that “exercise should be regarded as a tribute to the heart.” It has been well proven medically that the heart requires a lifestyle that is active, and yet balanced, to maintain optimum health. This includes caring for one’s mental health, adhering to a nutritious diet, obtaining quality sleep, and maintaining a healthy weight – daily disciplines that all contribute to a vigorous heart.

According to several sources, healthy adults tend to walk between 4,000 to 18,000 steps per day, with 10,000 steps being a reasonable target to maintain good health. Regular walking can help reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and depression. VOMC’s staff members have agreed to monitor their daily steps with the goal of walking between 4,500 to 10,000 steps each day as a means of fostering active care for their overall well-being.

Eric Liddell knew the importance of maintaining a strong, healthy heart both spiritually and physically to achieve success in winning life’s race. “I have no formula for winning the race,” he declared. “Everyone runs in her…or his own way. And where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within. Jesus said, '…behold, the Kingdom of God is within you… If, with all your hearts, you truly seek Me, you shall ever surely find Me' (Luke 17:21; Jeremiah 29:13). If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race.”

While we will experience troubles in this fallen world, we can look to Christ with confident hope and expectation because He has overcome the world. So then, I invite you to join us in the 2024 Heart Health Challenge. With hearts purified by faith and filled afresh with the Holy Spirit – plus, the added benefits of acquiring renewed physical strength – let us run a straight race with great endurance for God’s glory!

Grace and peace,

 
Floyd A. Brobbel
Chief Executive Officer
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada Inc.