What Would God See When He Looks At Your Heart? - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) August 12, 2025

Today's question stems from a conversation God had with one of His servants in the Bible. High Priest Samuel was instructed to change how he perceived people by paying more attention to how the Lord saw them. 1 Samuel 16:7 - 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.”

Consider the last few words of that scripture once more - the LORD looks at the heart. They convey a caution to us on how we look at others. Those few words equally reveal how God will look at us. Since He sees past our exterior, ask yourselves - What would God see when He looks at your heart?

It's very easy to have opinions on other people, but we don't spend enough time examining ourselves and what lies at the very heart of us. Are we carrying the Spirit of God? And are we doing so in a way that makes our hearts a comfortable place for the Lord to reside? Or are we habitually gossiping, fornicating, cheating on our taxes, and using our mouths as satan does to speak lies? Do we enjoy our sinful desires and elevate them above God's wishes? If so, then we do not look as good as we think.

Are we allowing the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to counsel and transform us so we walk in humility, are not petty, and show others grace and forgiveness? How about the Royal Law - are we treating people as we would like to be treated? Are we obeying God's law by not dabbling in New Age practices and the occult? If the answer is 'no', then it is time to repent and turn from our wicked ways so the blood of the Lamb can finish its work in us.

We may think we are Christians and saved, but if we aren't choosing to live in obedience to God's word, then we are no better than those who don't know about Jesus and the sacrifice He made for mankind. If sin rules over us, then we cannot claim, as Jesus did, that satan has no hold over us. And that would be a shame because Jesus died to give us that privilege. It is for us to agree with this aspect of God's plan so it can be real for us (Job 22:21).

Believers must be more concerned with how we look to Him. We therefore need to focus on what's going on in our hearts. Proverbs 4:23 warns, Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life (NLT). The heart is impacted by what we see, think, say, and do. However, when we allow the Holy Spirit to refine every area of our lives, our hearts get healed and look good to God. Plus, we become vessels He can use for His purpose (2 Timothy 2:21). Fruitful vineyards for His glory. 

For those who do not believe that any of this matters, please keep in mind that Jesus said there will be those who preached, cast our demons and performed miracles in His name only to be called evildoers at the judgment (Matthew 7:23). These types will be 'good,' churchgoing folks but because their heart posture did not please the Lord, they will not make it to heaven. Their title in church won't matter. What others think of them will be irrelevant. God, seeing who they truly are and not what they package themselves to look like, will judge them unworthy to enter His heavenly kingdom.

God seeks those who are fully committed and submitted to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9). He desires His children to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). God desires for the real you to look good to Him. He wants those who belong to Him to focus on how He sees them instead of what the world thinks of them. When we look good to God, He will honor us and make every necessary adjustment in us so others see us the way He does. 

If you don't think you have a heart that would bring a smile to God's face, today is the day to change that. Tomorrow may be too late (Isaiah 55:6).  So, give your life to Christ or recommit yourself to Him. This requires a choice to submit to Him, and while it isn't easy in practice, He is patient and will hold your hand as you walk that path with Him. Don't worry about not being perfect. God never sought out the perfect in the first place. It was always the broken, the unsure, the poor, and the weary that Jesus went looking for. God the Father is compassionate. He desires to heal and make people whole. If that is you, read the post below and watch the video it contains. 

The Lord will help us all, IJMN, Amen. And I hope to see you at Noon EST when we will praise the Lord, pray for the needs of other people, then pray for grace to have pure hearts that please the Lord. God bless you.

To learn more, please read:

1. Be a Fruitful Vineyard

2. Contentment

3. The Pruning

4. You are being built for the Lord

5. For My Own Good?​

6. Packaging​

7. Godly Contentment

8. The Fruitful Vineyard & Its Caretaker​

9. Don't Fake It Till You Make It

10. True Beauty

Put God's Concerns First - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) August 8, 2025

Remember when Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan!” in Mark 8:33? Are you also familiar with what He said next - “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Why did the Savior say those words, and what do they reveal about the human condition as it relates to the walk with God?

For context, Jesus rebuked Peter and called him Satan because the disciple had scolded Him for sharing that He would be persecuted and killed. Peter loved Jesus and couldn't bear to hear Him speak about His future hardship. Knowing God's plan for His life, Jesus had to oppose Peter's words and feelings. It didn't matter that they came from a good place. He needed to stay focused on God's plan, not his friend's feelings.

And that is something many of us overlook. Unlike Jesus, we fail to prioritize God's concerns. We get distracted by our feelings and desires. Over time, God's will for our lives often becomes insignificant to us. Yes, we say we want God's will and think we mean it, but when it’s time to decide, we usually choose ourselves.

We even put other people and things before Him. How many of us can admit to putting our significant others, children, or loved ones ahead of God and His plans? What about our jobs, favorite shows, or other activities? Far too often, we focus on everything except God and what He wants for us or for those He created us to influence.

Look at what Jesus said once more - “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Peter went from being a man whom Jesus had called His friend, to being labeled satan because he put his interests above God's plan. He didn't even realize he was doing this, by the way. He was just being his normal self - a fierce defender of those he loved. Unfortunately, his emotions and desires made him insensitive to the revelation Jesus shared about God's plan. He effectively became satan's mouthpiece when he tried to discourage Jesus from what was coming.

And that is another lesson to take from this incident. When we elevate our desires above those of the Lord, we may open the door for satan to step in and use us to speak or act contrary to God's will. If that happens, we are at risk of disobeying God and becoming a tool satan can use in achieving its evil schemes on the earth. When in actuality, we are to be tools and vessels for God alone.

Thank God for Jesus and His redeeming grace. Despite his mistake, Peter went on to serve God's purposes. Also, in John 15:3, He told His disciples, "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you." We too are recipients of that same cleansing grace as detailed in 1 John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Therefore, the blood of the Lamb does a cleansing work in the children of God, constantly redeeming us from sin as we walk in the light of God's word and in fellowship with our fellow faithful believers. That promise of the Lord gives us another opportunity to correct our ways and go from prioritizing ourselves to making God's concerns most important. It is God's mercy that our failures don't always eliminate us from His larger plan. And the Lord will continue to help us, IJMN Amen.

To learn more, please read:

1. To want or to give? That is the question

2. The Impact of Your Relationship With God

3. Desire God's More For Yourself

4. Topic: God is responsible for you

5. Don't Be Satan's Mouthpiece

Gracious Speech - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) August 5, 2025

As believers in Christ, we are called to speak graciously in Colossians 4:6 - Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Here, the word of God challenges us in how we address others. This should come as no surprise, as the Bible makes it clear that people should be careful what they say. The words we speak have a profound impact on our lives and the lives of those around us (Proverbs 4:23).

But what exactly is gracious speech? One way to understand it is to see gracious speech as the ability to communicate in a way that glorifies God's purpose and draws others to Him. Although most of us can confess that doing so isn't always easy, I believe this is how God wants us to speak to others. Fortunately, the Bible provides context and illustrates how to speak in a manner that is full of grace.

A believer speaks graciously when they consider that their every word will one day be judged (James 2:12). This requires the fear of the Lord and submission to the Spirit of God, who will counsel us on how and what to say. The way we speak should also set a good example to our fellow believers. 1 Timothy 4:12 - Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

Speaking graciously is required when we are asked why we believe in Jesus, even when the other person is being rude. We are called to communicate in a manner that disarms criticism and reflects Christ's character per 1 Peter 3:15 - But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Gracious speech cannot be unwholesome. It, therefore, should not include foul language or lewd descriptions. Ephesians 4:29 - Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them (NLT). As priests and representatives of the Lord, believers speak graciously when they express themselves with godly knowledge and wisdom. Malachi 2:7 states, It is the duty of priests to teach the true knowledge of God. People should go to them to learn my will, because they are the messengers of the LORD Almighty (GNT).

Although we don't live in a world where gracious speech is respected or rewarded, Scripture cannot be set aside (John 10:35). We would therefore be remiss to ignore God's expectations for those of us who call ourselves Christians and/or His children. Yes, when you decided to obey Him, you may have been a person who spoke however you liked. However, the beautiful thing about having a relationship with the Lord is that while He accepts you as you are, He plans to change you into the fullness of who He created you to be for His purpose.

IJN, we shall allow the Lord to help us so we glorify Him with gracious speech. Amen. See you at Noon EST for fellowship. God bless you!

To learn more, please read:

1. Empty Word

2. Careful what you say

3. Idle Words Block Blessings

4. Careful what you say about yourself

5. 1 Peter 2:17

6. Psalm 1

7. Complete Respect

8. Responding to Scoffers

9. Stop Cussing