Throughout the Bible, one of the key messages that stands out is that God knows your heart. It is the heart that matters. Being right before God is a matter of the heart. Nothing can be hidden from Him. I listed a few in the supporting scriptures section below, but I am sure there are many more. Knowing this, doesn’t it make sense to be aware of our hearts, and focus on our hearts being right? If our hearts are right with God, we have joy, peace, wisdom, understanding, power, authority, love, mercy, all good things that come through God.

Image courtesy of: andhong09

Scripture:
“But the Lord says to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance of his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’.” – 1 Samuel 16:7

Observation/Application:
I’ve heard it said that couple should not go to bed mad at each other. I have tried this before and it didn’t work out so well. The problem I had was figuring out how to not go to bed mad at each other. In the past, I would focus on trying to solve the problem, and making the other person understand my point of view. Or I could not get rid of being mad or upset at the other person knowing that they were wrong, rude, whatever it was, because I was wronged. Heck it could even have been on purpose, deliberate, and malicious. So here’s what I finally figured out. Me going to bed mad is totally within MY control. 

How could I control my emotions? Well I certainly did not learn to do it on my own terms. I learned to follow a very simple formula that is revealed in the Word of God. That formula us to turn to the Lord, and seek first the kingdom of God in all things. All things means that we should turn to God when we are mad. When I started doing this, God would reveal to me exactly what I needed. My anger would be relieved. I would always get some kind of Word and information that I needed to (1) ease my heart, and (2) give me understanding on how I should deal with the situation.

When we are mad, our hearts are not right with God. As soon as we get right with God, every issue, every trouble, every pain, every worry goes away. Sure our spouse may have done us wrong, or been rude because she was all emotional about something else and drug it into our household. And while we have nothing to do with the situation the other person unloads on us and is mean to us. It is totally wrong and inside we are thinking, “how rude”. During times like these it is easy for us to think about how we are being taken for granted and that we don’t deserve to be treated so unfairly and taken for granted.

And while on the surface this may be accurate, that is the devil at work. That is the devil trying to turn our hearts from God, trying to get us upset. He is trying to disturb our peace of mind so that he can turn us away from God. It helps so much to recognize the enemy schemes. And if we can recognize them and turn our hearts to the Lord, He will always be there for us to catch us when we are falling, and to give us the unconditional love that we need, and to bring back to a place where there is peace, joy, love, understanding, all good things that come from Him.

When we can get right on the inside by turning to the Lord, we can be undisturbed by the enemy which at times we might mistake for the people around us. But God helps us to see the enemy schemes. And when we turn to Him we will see God’s power and unseen forces are far more powerful than what we can muster in the flesh. Thank you Jesus!

#Guarding-Our-Hearts-With-God’s-Word

Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your Word this beautiful morning. The birds are chirping, the world is stirring, and peace and love and understanding are in my heart. Surely this is the day the Lord has made. Let us us rejoice and be glad in it. Help us to turn to you Lord – in all things, especially when there is trouble in our hearts – whenever we find ourselves mad or upset, or whenever we feel that we are being attacked at home, at work, or among our friends or even people that we might not know. Give us peace and understanding and wisdom and discernment for what to say and what not to say. Help us to turn to you when things are good Lord, when we are at peace, and in celebration of success, that you will get the glory. Help us to turn to you always Lord. We love You and honor You today, and always. Fill us with your Holy Spirit as we walk through today, that we may love everyone who comes across our path today. Help us to stay close to your Word always Lord, and let it guide us through this journey that we call life. Protect us from all temptation, unrighteousness, and the attacks of the enemy. Bless us, that we might be a blessing to others, in Jesus mighty name. Amen. 

Today’s full reading: 1 Samuel 15,16; 1 Chronicles 5; Matthew 1

Scripture References From Today’s Reflection:

• “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7

• “And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.” – Revelation 2:23

• “Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.” – Psalm 26:2

• “Yet, O LORD of hosts, You who test the righteous, Who see the mind and the heart; Let me see Your vengeance on them; For to You I have set forth my cause.” – Jeremiah 20:12

• “He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works.” – Psalm 33:15

• “And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen” – Acts 1:24

• “And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;” – Acts 15:8

• “Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.” – 1 Corinthians 4:5

• “but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:4

• “And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.” – Mark 7:6

• “You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.” – Acts 8:21

• “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,” – Ephesians 3:17

• “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7

• “May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:5

• “We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him” – 1 John 3:19

• “in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.” – 1 John 3:20

• “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;” – 1 John 3:21

• “For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled.” – Revelation 17:17

Please follow and like us: