Seeing Inside a Heart

"...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:2

Almost every week I come into contact with people who have been misled, thinking that success combines the earthly gifts upon our Rolodex, talent and/brilliance and education.

But the list doesn't end there. For some it's getting the breaks, pulling the right strings, having the right personality, being in the right place at the right time, and again, knowing the right people, playing their cards right.

You see, it is our natural tendency to focus on the external, to be overly impressed with the trappings of this world.

But, just between you and I, wouldn't it be wonderful to develop the ability to look at a heart? Wouldn't it be wonderful to have perfect spiritual vision and insight into our own heart? Wouldn't it be awesome to be able to understand as you look on a group meeting at your work to know what was going on in the hearts of the participants? Wouldn't it be great to be free of the limitations of strictly physical sight so that we could read hidden character traits; to be able to look on what truly matters?

Frankly, I think those who are physically blind, the light of day is something they have perhaps never seen, often seem to see more than those of us who are sighted. They often perceive much more than we can in the tone of a voice or in the sound of approaching footsteps or in the grip of a handshake. But we who have sight usually lack this insightful depth perception; the ability to detect the deeper things, the unspoken, the character, the hidden condition of the unspoken. And although God is able (and willing) to give us this ability, it isn't something we're born with. I'd like to make three significant observations.

First: Age has little to do with achievement and nothing to do with commitment. Trusting in the Lord and not leaning on our own perception and getting what we desire because we align with God's plans and direction happens from the child to the grandfather.

Second: A godly walk is basic to a positive life. There truly are no limits to the powerful effect a man or woman can have if it is a life that walks uprightly in Christ Jesus. What is an upright walk? One that gets up each morning and just loves on Jesus, speaks it, sings it, plays the recording of their life and where God touched it...it is those who have lives of power.

Third: Convictions are a matter of choice, not force.Your convictions don't show in what you are guilty about or for or what you have done...No. Guilt is the result of NOT being fully convinced of how you are to act and fighting over it in your mind. Those things you are fully convinced of will be the leading elements of life in you and through you.

We must keep on continually pursuing - seeking to see life from the heart. You see, my prayer is this, that you pray to have a heart that is exposed to the world, that I have the eyes of my understanding enlightened that you and I can see what Jesus see's when He looks on you and He looks on me and...and when He looks on those whom we come in contact with every day:

Lord! Help us to lead rightly, from your perspective, from your wisdom...help us to see what you see when you look on the hearts of men and women and then touch them as you would have us do. I remain...'

InYOURGripO'Lord,
~J~