The Beautiful Truth That Will Change How You See People - Your Nightly Prayer - July 16th
The Beautiful Truth That Will Change How You See People
By Lynette Kittle
TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised”-- Proverbs 31:30
SOMETHING TO PONDER
Although written for women, this proverb applies to men, too. No matter how hard people try to look and act perfectly, there are things in life that are longer-lasting and more enduring than outward beauty and charming ways.
Too many men and women have discovered the hard way that what they see on the outside of a person might not be truly reflecting who they are on the inside. How many individuals have fallen for the attractive exterior of a person, only to find out later the hidden, not-so-charming and beautiful qualities of the heart hidden deep within an individual?
Like a beautiful gift package is all wrapped up in lovely paper and extravagant ribbons, it may not truthfully represent the contents hiding inside. How many people have been gifted with what looks like a fabulous-looking gift, then open it, and receive a horrendous or embarrassing gag gift?
As God explains in His word, He doesn’t look at the outside of a person because that doesn’t tell us who a person really is, where it counts, in the heart. Often, it just presents a façade or illusion of their true self.
To truly know who we are, God looks much deeper than most of us do, looking at our hearts, as described in 1 Samuel 16:7 when God was looking for the future king of Israel.
“But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
God’s way of seeing who a person actually is is to look at their hearts. Jeremiah 17:10 explains further, “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for looking deeper within us, past our outward appearances, to see through our facades and the walls we put up to be accepted and loved by others. We invite you to truly reveal and examine our hearts: lead us to repentance and a desire to seek after You, to yield to Your ways in our lives, and to fear You in a reverential way that honors and pleases You. Change our hearts in a way that transforms and encourages us to love and serve You all the days of our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. What matters most to you, how you look to others, or what your heart and thoughts are towards those you meet?
2. Ask God to reveal your heart to you, asking Him to expose any areas that aren’t pleasing to Him. When He does, be willing to repent and to change your thinking to agree with His thoughts.
3. How are you looking at others? Do you find yourself summing individuals up quickly based on your first impressions of them and their appearance? If so, ask God to help you look deeper like He does and to see past their outward appearances.
Photo Credit:©GettyImages/AntonioGuillem
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.
