Monday, August 13, 2012

God Looks At Your Heart by Ann Elaine Broughton




The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV).

    God looks at our heart and judges us by our inner beauty. He sees us for who we really are. So is that the way you judge others or do you look at someone and make rash judgment calls on people by their looks? I recently saw a movie called “Shallow Hal”. It was about a man who only wanted to date beautiful women and would not even consider looking for inner beauty. Well, a man came into his life who gave him the ability to see a woman’s inner beauty. From that time on Hal dated women who his friend considered losers because they were heavy or not so attractive. But Hal didn’t understand because to him they looked beautiful because he was viewing them for their inner beauty.  That is exactly what we are to do. We are to look at others as Jesus does.
    Since I have problems with my weight, I am very sensitive to those people with this problem. I know people make fun of heavy set people and it makes me sad. There are reasons people are heavy. It could be a hormonal problem, a thyroid problem, medicines, or depression. Sometimes it is just so very hard to lose weight. I have many friends with this problem who are so very kind and sweet, and I am glad that they are my friends. If I would have judged them by what their outward appearance was and rejected them, I would have missed out on a wonderful friendship.
    Do you have problems with judging people before you get to know them? God tells us, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1 NIV). God looks at your heart. “For the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts” (1 Chronicles 28:9 NIV). So just as God looks at your heart, it is important for you to see people in the same light.
Dear Lord,
Help me to see others as you see them. Help me not to judge them by their outward appearances, but to treat them as you would treat them. Let me show them your love and kindness.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
  
   
   

Perseverance: A devotion by Ann Broughton

“ And not only this, but we also exult in tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance proven cha...