What Is Your Life Reflecting about Your Heart? - The Crosswalk Devotional - September 8
What Is Your Life Reflecting about Your Heart?
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading:
“As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” - Proverbs 27:19
What are our lives reflecting to those around us? How are our words and actions revealing what is within our hearts and what we really believe?
Too many of us know, or have known, individuals who say they are Christians, yet their actions tell another story, one that doesn’t support what their words confess.
Proverbs points out that how we’re living is truly a reflection of our hearts, so if we’re saying one thing, but living in another way, the truth is in our reflection. If we think we’re hiding what’s in our hearts, we need to reconsider because we can’t really hide what’s going on inside of us.
If we say we love God, but then our words and actions don’t align with His words and commands, we may fool a few people, or even many… but we may be mostly fooling ourselves.
The following are alarming reflections: the things rooted in our hearts that we may be missing that are fooling us.
Are we impatient, not wanting to hear what others have to say or explain, wanting to express our own viewpoints?
If so, it’s wise for us to consider what Proverbs 18:2 describes: “Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.”
Do we really enjoy hearing all the wild and evil schemes others devise? Are shows and stories on true crimes more interesting to us than the Bible and godly programming?
If so, Proverbs 10:23 reveals that, “A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.”
When we’re faced with deciding between following God’s wisdom or choosing to follow the wisdom of men, what do we choose? Are we finding ourselves trusting more in what men and women tell us than in God?
John 2:23-24 tells us what Jesus would do: “Now while He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs He was performing and believed in His name. But Jesus would not entrust Himself to them, for He knew all people.”
If we find ourselves thinking we’re too wise or important to listen to or consider others’ words spoken to us, we may want to consider what Proverbs 23:9 describes: “Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.”
Do we see ourselves as smarter than everyone around us? If so, we may want to contemplate what Proverbs 26:5 describes: “Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.”
Maybe those around us are just not pointing out when we’re in error, letting us think we’re always right. If so, we’re in danger of being deceived and led into making foolish choices.
Do we see ourselves as better than others? If so, as Proverbs 16:18 warns, we may not know when we’re in pride and at risk of falling, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
It seems like pride may be kind of hidden for anyone who is prideful, and not an easy attitude for most to detect in ourselves. But, as Proverbs 11:2 warns, “When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.”
Taking Stock of What We’re Reflecting
It’s wise for us to take stock of ourselves now and then, just to double-check whether we’ve gotten off track in our lives or derailed a bit from where God is leading us.
We can also ask God to examine and expose our hearts so that we may recognize and address any wrong thoughts, attitudes, and actions.
Also, we can ask Him to strengthen us and help us reflect Him and His word in our lives.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
What is your life reflecting about your heart? If you don't like what’s being reflected, ask God to help you see clearly and to lead you with His word and godly principles, so that others are drawn to Him, through what they’re seeing in you.
Further Reading:
5 Ways Christians Can Reflect Christ Through Everyday Etiquette
Join the conversation! Share how today’s devotional encouraged or challenged you in your walk with Christ.
Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/ThitareeSarmkasat
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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