The Lord Looks at the Heart
“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
The Lord looks at our hearts because our thoughts reveal everything about us. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23) This verse tells the importance of our thoughts, because our actions come from our thoughts. We should be conscience of our thoughts because it is like talking directly to God.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2) Necessary to control our thoughts to be pleasing to God, we must renew our mind. Our minds rewire the neural connections based on our thoughts, and the mind rewires slowly over time. To control our thoughts, we need the Lord’s power, which comes from reading the Word, prayer, and Christian fellowship.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2) This scripture tells us what to think about, on things above, and the more we control our thoughts the more our brains rewire. The more we think on things above, aided by reading the Word, praying, fellowship; and stop thinking about life in this sinful world, the faster our minds will rewire.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5) This verse is critical because Satan never wants anyone to think on things above. Through the power of our Lord, we can control our thoughts, and Satan will not be able to control our thoughts through the world. Our thoughts are under our control, when we are guided by the power of the Spirit. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:6) Always know where your thought is coming from, the flesh or the Spirit.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10) Being still inside is critical in controlling our emotions, because Satan will trigger emotions to change our thoughts, words, and actions; such that we are displeasing to God. Remember our words and actions normally start from our thoughts.
Today seek to control your thoughts and be still inside, independent of the world around you. Know that Satan will try to activate our emotions causing us to sin.
Prayer: Lord, help me to control my thoughts and to control my emotions. In Jesus name, Amen