Inside out

Over the past two weeks I have felt to share with you that it is most important what goes on inside of your heart...

Proverbs 4:23
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

I used to spend most of my time making sure everything on the ‘outside of me’ and around me was in near perfect order or condition. At work and at home I gave my absolute best at making sure things were done as structured and accurately as possible. I couldn’t cope with a mess and got irate when things weren’t going as planned. I found my worth and value in my performance, but it isn’t always possible to perform at best. I focussed all of my attention on making sure things were done right and that everything was in order without considering how I acted. When things are in outwardly order it impresses people, but by keeping to it we might be speaking and acting inappropriately. Although we are able to put our best foot forward, it is only a matter of time before we slip up and seen acting out our true thoughts and feelings. It took some time to realise that it is much more important to make sure that what goes on inside is good, pure and acceptable to God. We need to consider our hearts, for from it comes everything. (See above Proverbs 4:23)

♥ God knows your heart. God knows all about what is going on inside of us. He knows every thought that you have and He knows all of your hearts intentions.

1 Samuel 16:7 “..The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 

The world doesn’t care about what goes on inside a person’s heart as long as they don’t act out those thoughts with outward deeds. But God cares, we cannot fool God and He looks at our hearts and makes His judgments from what He sees there.

Luke 6:45 “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (cross reference Matthew 12:35)

 
Jesus taught that we would be blessed by God if our hearts are pure. 

Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

It is true that our actions are the reflection and result of what is going on inside of us. We need to pay attention to what we are keeping in our hearts, because that which is in our hearts will ultimately come out into our lives and it will define us. God’s Word clearly and very truthfully tell us in Proverbs 23:7 "As a man thinks in his heart, so does he become."

I want my heart to be acceptable to God, so that He can use me.

Let God’s Word teach you, spend time with God and listen to His Spirit stirring inside of you. Be willing to change what is unacceptable to Him.

Commit to keep your heart pure, because what is inside will come out.