And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith.  Philippians 1:20-25 NLT

Create in me a clean heart, O  God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.  Psalm 51:10 NLT

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.  Psalm 139:23-24 NLT

But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by His name.  1 Peter 4:16 NLT

So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.  1 Peter 5:10 NLT

The words rang in my ears. I had to have open heart surgery. After tests, the surgeon determined there was no other hope for me if I was going to stay among the living here on Earth but to surrender to his expertise in performing open heart surgery. Though I’d suffer much pain, the road to recovery would be long, and I would be dependent on others to help me through, it was the only way.

If I’m honest, there was a part of me that just wanted to go be with Jesus. I asked God if it was His will for me to live through the surgery and stay here on Earth or was it my time to go and live with Jesus. As I prayed, the words of Paul to the Philippians that I used to begin this devotion came to my mind, and I believed that God had answered my question. I would be staying to help others.

As followers of Jesus and to live with an open heart for others, our spiritual lives also require that we undergo open heart surgery. Just as I had to surrender to the care of my surgeon to take care of the problems of my physical heart, so must we open our heart and surrender to the care of the Great Physician to perform surgery on the problems of our spiritual heart and bring healing. It is something to which we must all surrender if we intend to follow God and become more Christlike. To live with an open heart for God and others will involve much pain and last our whole life, but it is the only way. And it will be so worth it!

I will forever remember waking up from surgery and realizing I was still here on Earth. And I was immediately aware of the pain that I would have to endure and the help I would need to recover and stay here. The same is true when we surrender our heart to God and allow Him to mold us into Christlikeness. As previously stated, to open our heart to God and others will involve pain. However, the peace that we will know and the joys we will experience in living our lives with an open heart will far eclipse the pain.

I guess you’ve figured out that I survived the surgery. I don’t know who those are that for their sakes God has left me here to help, but I do know that I will strive to keep my heart open to God and others so that I may share with them the hope of Jesus that is within me.

How about you? Have you opened your heart to God’s will in helping others who need you?