God Looks at the Heart
/
We continue to pray for Floyd’s protection from the virus. I daily pray that "no harm will come near his room." I am so grateful to the Lord that although is battling some of the winter congestion and phlegm, he has been fine.
Sometimes when I look in the mirror, I don't recognize myself! There are lots of new wrinkles! That happens as the years roll by. My face is a little fuller because of weight gain from the cancer treatment I'm on. But the thing I notice most right now is that my hair is so much longer. No haircuts the last 5 months! Someone asked me when the last time was that my hair was this long. I thought, and realized it was the 1970s. :) It's about down to my shoulders. I've always kept my hair short. Floyd would actually complain if I let it grow as he loves me with short hair!
As I look at this person that looks so different to the "me" that I know, I have a new appreciation for the verse that says God doesn't see as man sees. "Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." I'm really very grateful that God sees the heart and not just this very different person that I'm looking at in the mirror. I'm not too fond of this new look.
I can't always control what's happening to me on the outside - but I can surely control what's going on in my heart! If I allow any sin to enter my heart (pride, anger, jealousy, rebellion, disobedience, greed unforgiveness - anything that doesn't reflect the Lord) - God will surely see it even if no one else does. It will grieve Him, and He will hold me accountable. I need to regularly examine my heart to make sure none of these ugly attitudes enter in.
On the flip side, even though my outward body is crumbling away - if I keep my heart clean and pure before Him......it brings Him pleasure and glorifies Him. That is my desire, and I ask God to help me continually.
I was thinking about the things that impact our hearts:
· disappointment over unanswered prayer
· hurt in relationships
· insecurity and feelings of rejection
· tension in our families
· fear for the future
· illness and physical pain
I guess the list is endless! There are so many things that can batter our hearts.
It starts with a problem. Then our minds think about it over and over. It slowly consumes our thoughts. And, before you know it, our hearts are overwhelmed with the problem. The problem takes on immense proportions......and God is pushed to a small corner in our hearts. I've had this happen. In fact, I know how easily it can happen.
We have to make daily choices to "cast our cares and burdens on the Lord" and keep our focus on who He is in the midst of the problems. He is the One who can solve the problems. We can't! And we can't let the problems consume us.
I've had messages recently from a number of friends and acquaintances who are feeling the weight of the pandemic - mentally and emotionally. Some have lost jobs. Others are physically ill. Many are weighed down with fear for the future. It IS a stressful time. I feel it too. That is why we must keep guard over our hearts and minds and continually press into the Lord to help us. We can't allow any room for the enemy to exploit our situations.
God understands the difficulties we face! He is continually with us. He will help us with each burden, each care, each worry, each need as we turn our hearts to Him. He is so faithful!
"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.' " 1 Samuel 16:7
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." Proverbs 4:23
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10
"Trust the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5,6
It doesn't matter how old (or young) we are - whether a long time Christian (or a brand new one) - we must keep guard over our hearts so that when God looks at our hearts, He will be pleased.
I'm an organized person - very detailed. I think through things in great detail. I always have lists. I've been like this from my earliest years, so I know it's how God has made me - and I receive it as a gift from Him. In fact, I've been grateful all my life for how God made me as I've seen Him use that gifting in me.
Floyd is a visionary. I know it's how God made him. It's not that he lacks organization, he doesn't - but the visionary side of him is so dominant. You can imagine that our two very different giftings made for an interesting marriage. We had to learn how to use our giftings together - how to complement one another. In the beginning I think we just irritated each other! :) But we worked on it!!
My detail was actually a help to Floyd - but he would get tired of me asking so many questions. He said I poked holes in his visions. I had to learn to listen more and not find all the weak spots in his visions! He, in turn, had to learn how to work out the details of his visions. He used to joke and say if he could get his visions past me - they had to be from the Lord!!
It took time, practice, and lots of patience......but we learned why God put us together. We were actually a really good team, and we loved working together in the things God had for us. I needed my visionary husband, and he needed his practical, detailed wife.
I was thinking about this recently, and began to think of how God is both visionary and practical. He is the ultimate detail person - and yet He sees the big picture. He knows where it's all going - what the plan is. I was suddenly overwhelmed with the awesomeness of God as I reflected on this. He has a plan, a purpose for our lives. He knows where He's leading us on the journey, even unexpected ones.....and He is also with us in every single detail. As I struggle through some of the hardships of my days, He is right by my side - helping me with each difficulty. He gives me the understanding I need to sort through every detail of this journey. How incredible and faithful He is!
"Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them." Exodus 26:1
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care." Matthew 10:29
"The steps of a man are ordered by the Lord who takes delight in his journey." Psalm 37:23
"So make yourself an ark out of cedar, constructing compartments in it, and cover it inside and out with tar. Make the ark like this: 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. Make a roof for the ark, and finish the walls to within one cubit from the top." Genesis 6:14-16
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1
The Bible is filled with verses that show God's love of detail! I'm so grateful for that. I can come to Him with every detail in my life.
Someone wrote recently and said "standing with you on our knees." I loved the visual imagery - and I loved the commitment. I’m so thankful for each one who prays for us and stands with us on their knees. I am so grateful!