God Listens to Our Hearts
For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7
God listens to our hearts and our hearts are revealed by our thoughts. If we are to see people as God sees people, then need to look pass the appearance and look at their heart. But how can we know their thoughts because people don’t always say what’s in their heart? Therefore, we have to get know someone and listen to their words and their actions because we live out of our hearts. A person’s heart is best revealed by their life.
It’s good that the Lord looks at our hearts because God changes our hearts. We seek to be pleasing to the Lord, but through our flesh, we sometimes yield to temptation. But if our hearts seek to do God’s will, then our hearts are pleasing to God. He knows as long as we live in the flesh we can never be perfect, but we have forgiveness in Christ.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21) We can often see a person’s heart by where their treasure is, by what takes priority in their life. A Christian’s heart is revealed by what takes priority in their life. Does God take priority, or are there things of the world that sometimes take priority? We can identify a strong Christian with a heart for God because Christ is the center of their life and their hearts are filled with God’s love. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)
When we minister, we look past their appearance and try to understand their hearts. We look for a God-like character in every person we minister to. Every person has some characteristic of God within them, and we seek to bring it to the surface of their thinking. As we seek to encourage others and bring out their Godly character, we are also mentoring to our own hearts to be more Christ-like.
My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways. (Proverbs 23:26) Our spiritual heart defines who we are to the Lord and to the world. God is continually renewing our mind and changing our heart to be more Christ-like. The more Christ-like we become the closer we are to the Lord. Being close to the Lord is the greatest thing in life.
Today: Guard your heart and see others through their heart. Seek to understand others by careful listening and seek to bring out their Godly strengths. This is one powerful way to be encouraging and uplifting to others.
Prayer: Lord, help me to see others as you see them, to see their hearts. Help me to look past their appearance and their faults, but to look for the good in others. In Jesus’ name, Amen