Do you struggle with losing weight? Every day is a battle, one calorie at a time. And then there is that wicked cupcake, that seductive pizza, that chocolate milkshake that is calling your name. Why do we struggle so with losing extra “poundage”? We obsess over our outward appearance, but seldom focus on the weighty matter of our innermost being-our hearts.
Scales scare most people.
Maybe it’s because they accurately display reality. I know at times, I flinch when I await the spinning to stop.
I was reading recently in Proverbs 21 and stumbled upon a weighty statement that gives us the skinny on what the Lord is viewing within our lives.
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. Proverbs 21:2
It’s amazing the lines I feed myself…how about you?
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter the spin we put on our rationalization. In our world of smooth talk, Photoshop and blue screen movie magic – the LORD can tell the inner reality of the heart.
What I enjoy about the Psalms is the honesty of the psalmist as they let the LORD know all that is within – the good, the bad and the ugly.
You don’t have to hide, mask or shade your heart from the Lord. As it comes to the way we live – we’re invited to live with an honest and open heart before the Lord (He knows anyway). So why is it hard to live as an open book before Him or others at times?
Maybe that’s the beauty of living empowered by the Spirit – that the Bible spends so much time unpacking – that as God is weighing our hearts, He’s calling us toward honest evaluation. To be open to Him calling us on the carpet when we’re out of alignment and also the joy of celebrating growth as our heart responds as He desires.
We tend to evaluate with our minds – often, what is the ‘right’ thing to do for self-preservation and advancement. And those motivators are what come so quickly to our minds.
But God is weighing our heart. The WHY we’re doing what we’re doing, responding the way we’re responding or saying what we’re saying.
Intentions matter to God, not just actions. Truth is: Actions are always fueled by intentions. As I wrestle with the reality that God weighs my heart…it can drive me to one of two places. Either I feel like I’ll never get things right (guilt) and therefore I’m eternally stuck. Or I can allow it to guide me to a deeper appreciation of grace and dependency on its power to change my heart.
Having God weigh my heart really starts with being honest with myself – and letting God’s grace allow me to be more honest with myself. As I live in that honesty – I can find the grace to cover over my wrongs and grace to pull me closer to becoming the ‘me’ I was created to be. ~Jack
What do you think? : Why is such a struggle to be honest with ourselves or think about God weighing our heart motives? Does that scare you or free you to be real with Him/yourself?