When you avail yourself to God to be used, He does not concern himself with what you are wearing, the color of your skin, or the texture of your hair. The greatest concern to God is the condition of your heart. He wants you. The real you. God is not interested in fantsy watches, name brand clothes, or luxury cars. God dwells in a realm where the streets are paved with gold, He does not need our material wealth. He seeks for a heart that will serve him ferverently. To often we are judged by what we look like on the outside and while the content of our heart is devalued or ignored. This is not a Godly practice but a social norm that too many of us use against others and ourselves.If you look in the mirror and don't like what you see, I admonish you to look again. You are beautiful in the eyes of God. Psalm 134:14 reads, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Praise God for your beautiful smile, nose, skin, face, and body. But more importantly, rejoice because God created you in his image and likeness and there is absolutely nothing wrong with you (Genesis 1:27). The condition of your heart should concern you more than any unwanted physical trait you have. Place your self esteem on what God says about you and not what the world has to say. God is calling you to live above the norm and to answer a call that is beyond average.
There is nothing we can do to earn this wonderful grace God has bestowed upon us. We can try for the rest of our lives and never repay God for his goodness. It is best to accept it. As a child of God you are blessed and highly favored. Ephesians 2:7-10 reads, "Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role." As we learn not to judge ourselves so harshly, we must then begin to not judge others so harshly as well. This all starts with the condition of your heart and what you allow to enter in to it.
This world places so much emphasis on material wealth. So much so that it is easy to find a part of your self worth in what kind of car you drive or the zipcode you live in. I know I use to feel embarassed if I had to wear the same jeans twice. I would look at Entertainment Tonight and People Magazine. In my mind, I told myself that I was looking at it for fun, but how much of that "celebrity" life hypnotizes our minds into believing that material wealth is worth seeking after.
Be careful what you feed yourself because eventually you will develop a strong appetite for it. I began to consistently look at People Magazine and celebrity culture. I told myself it was to see the new trends out there but mostly I effortlessly became consumed by celebrity gossip. Negative images are forced upon us even when we are not looking for it. Unconsciously, we begin to seek more after looking like a celebrity and less after reflecting the Spirit of God. Proverbs 4:23 reads, "Keep viligent watch over your heart, that's where life starts."
I continually have a heart check and see where I am expending my energy. Life is so precious. Every minute God graces us to live it, should be cherished and purposefully spent. What or who do you allow to occupy your time? Whatever or Whomever you allow to fill your space should be worth your precious time and effort. The Holy Spirit has always urged me to remove anything in my life that was not assisting me fulfill the purpose God placed in my life. Because God is so concerned with your heart, he will do what he can to win it. There is so much favor in the Kingdom of God. When you serve God and walk in obedience it opens up the flood gates of favor in your life. This does not mean you live a life of perfection. Believe me, it is more exhausting trying to be perfect than running a 26 mile marathon.
Even your past or current actions cannot disqualify you from his love. All you have to do is choose to get your heart right today. Romans 8:35-37 reads, "Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, 'For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.' No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us." God loves you in a way that cannot be explained.
Let's not only focus ourselves on performing frequent heart checks but let's view the world the way God does. Don't miss out on an amazing opportunity because you are more concerned with the outward appearance and less concerned with its inward content. Many of us have heard of the saying, "He has not sinned cast the first stone." It derives from John 8:7. If you read further along in verse 10, it reads,
"Jesus straightend up and asked her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?'
"No one, sir," she said
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
We need to hang on these words. God does not condemn us, we often condemn ourselves. God wants you out of that bad relationship, attitude, addiction, hurt, or affliction. He wants to clear the path of anything that would prevent Him from getting close to your heart. We must be willing participants. God graces us with free will to choose Him. That is just it. We must choose. Through His son Jesus Christ we have a chance to become children of the light and leave all dark days behind. Your spirit craves it and the condition of your heart depends upon it. Check your heart today and rejoice in the beauty of who you are. You are more than what any mirror can reflect.
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