Matters of the Heart - Beloved Women - February 14, 2024
READ: “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7b ESV)
TODAY'S ENCOURAGEMENT: I can pinpoint several times in my life when I thought I was looking cute only to get to the bathroom and discover otherwise. Whether it was several out of place hairs, some unidentified fluid from my children, or an unnoticed rip in my clothing I soon realized I wasn’t as magazine ready as I thought. Sometimes this is the case inwardly as well.
We may take great pains to work on our outward appearance while ignoring the condition of our hearts. Here in this passage, we see, God, sending the prophet Samuel to Bethlehem in search of the next King of Israel. Initially, Samuel saw Eliab’s appearance and thought he was the next King. This was when God reminded him that He is not like man and considers the heart rather than the outward appearance.
We too must address the conditions of our heart. Rather than applying make-up and spending hours coordinating our outfit we should address unforgiveness, release pent-up anger, and get rid of all jealousy and envy first. These are the things God sees. Although it is tempting not to, we must give our heart more attention than we do our outward appearance.
PRAY: Dear God, Thank You that You are not like man and are concerned with my heart rather than my outward appearance. Please help me to be more concerned about how I look inwardly rather than my outer image. In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.
REFLECT: What area of your heart have you been neglecting?
CONNECT: Connect with Kia Stephens at www.kiastephens.com or on Instagram @KiaNStephens.
MORE BELOVED: Join Beloved Women for our current online Bible Study “Worth More Than Rubies: A Bible Study on the 7 Virtues of the Proverbs 31 Woman.” Too often when we think of what it means to be a godly woman we focus on what women do instead of who we were created to be. Learn how to cultivate the heart of a Proverbs 31 woman by joining our study “Worth More Than Rubies” at https://www.belovedwomen.org/rubies.
© 2021 by Kia Stephens. All rights reserved.
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Originally published Wednesday, 14 February 2024.
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