Tag: inner life

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)

November 3, 2023 Devotional Post a Comment

Shaping Your World from Within

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” – Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)

Introduction:

Consider the last time you caught yourself daydreaming. Were you envisioning success or worrying about potential failures? The Biblical proverb above suggests that our thoughts are more than brief flickers of electricity in our brain—they shape our identity and actions.

Key Point Summary:

This passage from Proverbs encapsulates the profound truth that our innermost thoughts have the power to shape our reality. It implies that what we focus on mentally can and does become manifest in our lives.

Devotional Story:

Imagine a man named Tom who dreams of starting his own business. Every day, he envisions the shop he wants to open, the customers he’ll serve, and the community he’ll build. His thoughts are detailed and vivid, full of hope and expectation. With every thought, he’s not just daydreaming; he’s laying the foundation of his reality. His belief in his success fuels his actions—he takes business classes, saves money, and researches his market. His thoughts shape his identity: Tom sees himself as an entrepreneur long before the storefront is ever leased.

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” – Colossians 3:2 (NKJV)

Contextual Insight:

Proverbs is a book full of wisdom, traditionally attributed to King Solomon, known for his wisdom in the Hebrew Scriptures. The proverb speaks to the ancient understanding that the heart is the center of intellectual and emotional activity, not merely a physical organ but the seat of the soul and mind.

Personal Reflection:

How do your thoughts shape your identity? Are they lifting you toward your goals or dragging you down? What is the quality of your habitual thoughts?

Practical Application:

1. Begin each morning with a positive affirmation related to your goals.
2. When negative thoughts arise, consciously replace them with positive ones.
3. Meditate on Scripture that affirms your identity in Christ and His promises for you.

Prayer:

Lord, guide my thoughts toward Your truth and goodness. Help me to see myself as You see me and to let my thoughts be a reflection of Your will in my life. Amen.

Conclusion:

Your thoughts are the architects of your destiny. Dwell on the truths of Scripture, and let them mold your identity and actions.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

Further Reading:

– Philippians 4:8
– Matthew 12:34

Faith Notes:

The Bible often connects our innermost thoughts to our outward actions, suggesting a link between mind and behavior that is as relevant today as it was in Solomon’s time.

Reader Participation:

Reflect on the power of thoughts in your own life and share how aligning your thoughts with God’s Word has influenced your path.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” – Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)