Tag: heart

April 4, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

It’s Not the Act, It’s the Intent

Opening Verse

“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.”
— Proverbs 21:2 (KJV)

Introduction

Many people think that if their actions look good, that’s enough. But God doesn’t just look at what we do—He looks deeper. He sees why we do it. It’s not just the act that matters to God; it’s the heart behind it.

Devotional Story

There was a young woman who gave to the poor every month. She made sure to post about it online, tagging her church and using popular Scriptures as captions. Everyone thought she was generous, kind, and spiritually mature. But behind closed doors, her heart was far from God. She often mocked the very people she helped, seeing them as beneath her.

Across town, there was a man who quietly slipped envelopes of cash into struggling families’ mailboxes. He told no one. No hashtags. No photos. He even skipped church sometimes out of shame for his past. But every act of kindness came from a heart broken by his own sin and desperate to honor Christ in secret.

Which one did God approve of?

Jesus answered that very question in Matthew 6:1:

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.”

What This Means

God doesn’t just want our hands—He wants our hearts. You can do the right thing for the wrong reason and miss the mark completely. You can preach, give, or serve, but if it’s done for attention, praise, or guilt, it doesn’t please Him. But even the smallest act, done with a heart that loves Jesus, is seen and rewarded by God.

This is urgent—because many will one day say, “Lord, didn’t we do all these things in Your name?” and Jesus will reply, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:22-23). Why? Because their intent was never truly for Him.

Think About This

  • Are your actions for Christ or for credit?

  • If no one saw what you did, would you still do it?

  • What does God see when He looks past your deeds and into your heart?

Prayer

Lord, search my heart and show me the truth. Cleanse me from false motives. Let everything I do be for Your glory and not my own. Teach me to live with eternity in mind, not applause. I want to please You, not people. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” — Jeremiah 17:9-10 (KJV)

September 27, 2024 Devotional Post a Comment

Securing the Heart: Inside and Out

Opening Verse

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”
(Matthew 23:27, KJV)

Introduction

In life, we often focus on securing what is visible—the reputation, the appearance, the outward actions. However, what good is it to build the strongest walls if what lies inside is decaying? True security, in God’s kingdom, begins with the heart.

Devotional Story

There was once a wise king who built a mighty fortress. Its walls were thick, the towers high, and the moat deep. Armed guards stood watch day and night. The king believed his kingdom was invincible. However, within the walls of the fortress, corruption festered. His trusted advisers were greedy, and his soldiers’ hearts were hardened with pride. Despite the king’s efforts to secure his realm externally, the internal decay weakened the kingdom.

One night, as the guards stood vigilant, the gate creaked open from within. Betrayed by those inside, the enemies of the kingdom flooded in through an unguarded passage.

What This Means

Jesus tells us that it is not just outward actions that matter, but the condition of the heart. Just as the king in the story failed to secure his kingdom from within, we too can be vulnerable if we neglect the state of our hearts. We may put on a front of righteousness, but if sin, selfishness, or bitterness lie within, it will eventually find a way to destroy us.

Righteousness and purity must start within, with a heart surrendered to God. Only then can we be truly protected—internally and externally. The Pharisees, whom Jesus rebuked, looked perfect on the outside but were spiritually dead inside. We must guard our hearts first, for it is from the heart that the true issues of life flow (Proverbs 4:23).

Think About This

What are the “back doors” in your life? Are there areas of unaddressed sin or attitudes that you have allowed to remain? Remember that external protection is not enough if your heart is not surrendered fully to God.

Prayer

Lord, help me to guard my heart and not just focus on outward appearances. Show me areas of my life where I need to seek forgiveness and purity. Let me be secure not just in what I do, but in who I am before You. Protect me from the enemy within and without, that I may stand firm in Your righteousness. Amen.

Closing Verse

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
(Proverbs 4:23, KJV)

 

September 16, 2024 Devotional Post a Comment

Be Yourself, Not a Copy

Opening Verse

“For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7, KJV)

Introduction

It’s easy to feel jealous of others sometimes. We see someone who seems to have it all—popularity, success, and admiration—and we think that if we act like them or look like them, we can have the same life. But what we often forget is that it’s not the outward appearance that truly draws people in. It’s something deeper.

Devotional Story

There was once a young man who admired his friend. This friend seemed to have everything—a great job, many friends, and everyone loved being around him. The young man thought to himself, “If only I could dress like him, speak like him, and do the things he does, then I will be liked too.”

So he started copying everything. He bought the same clothes, adopted the same mannerisms, and even tried to say the same things. But to his surprise, people didn’t react the same way. Instead of drawing people closer, they seemed distant and unsure around him.

After weeks of frustration, he finally asked his friend, “Why isn’t this working for me? I’ve done everything you do, but I still feel invisible.”

His friend smiled kindly and said, “It’s not the clothes or the way I talk that make people want to be around me. It’s the love in my heart for them. I genuinely care about people, and that’s what they respond to.”

What This Means

We often get caught up in appearances, thinking that if we can mimic someone’s outside, we will gain what they have. But God reminds us in His Word that He doesn’t look at the outside—He looks at the heart. What truly attracts others is a heart filled with love, kindness, and sincerity. If we focus on becoming the person God created us to be, instead of copying others, we will find that the right people are drawn to us naturally.

Think About This

  • Have you ever tried to copy someone else, thinking it would make you more popular or successful?
  • What qualities of your heart can you focus on that reflect the love of Christ?
  • How can you be more genuine with those around you?

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to remember that You care more about my heart than my outward appearance. Teach me to love others from a sincere heart, and to be the person You created me to be, not a copy of someone else. Fill me with Your love and kindness so that I may draw people closer to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John 13:34, KJV)

September 12, 2024 Devotional Post a Comment

The Inner Self Creates the Outer World

Opening Verse

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” — Proverbs 4:23 (KJV)

Introduction

The condition of our heart and mind is reflected in how we live our lives. What we nurture internally often becomes visible in our actions, relationships, and decisions. As Christians, we are called to guard our hearts and minds because our inner thoughts and attitudes shape the world we experience.

Devotional Story

There was once a man named Roger who always seemed overwhelmed by stress and negativity. No matter what good things happened, he couldn’t shake his feelings of frustration. One day, his friend James asked him, “Why do you see so much hardship in your life?”

Roger responded, “Because life is hard. No matter what I do, something always goes wrong.”

James paused and then said, “Roger, could it be that your focus on the negative is shaping your experience? Jesus said in Matthew 12:34, ‘For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.’ What fills your heart comes out in how you live. If you fill your heart with God’s peace, your world will begin to change.”

This conversation struck a chord with Roger. He began to spend more time in prayer and meditation on God’s Word, focusing on His promises rather than his frustrations. Over time, Roger noticed a shift. His circumstances hadn’t changed drastically, but his heart had. And because his heart changed, his view of the world became more hopeful.

What This Means

The way we perceive and experience the world often starts with what’s inside of us. If we allow worry, anger, or bitterness to rule our hearts, that’s what we will see in our daily lives. However, when we fill our hearts with God’s love, peace, and joy, those same qualities begin to reflect in our outer world. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 12:2 to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” It all starts within.

Think About This

  • What thoughts and emotions are ruling your heart today?
  • Are you allowing God’s peace and love to fill your heart, or are you letting the world’s troubles dominate?
  • How can you take a step today to shift your focus from outward problems to inner peace with God?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to guard my heart and mind. I know that what I allow inside of me will shape how I see the world around me. Fill me with Your peace, love, and joy, so that my life reflects Your goodness. May I look inward first and trust that You will guide my steps in the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” — Matthew 12:35 (KJV)