The other day I was relaxing at home, bumming it, when my mom stopped by. My hair was swept up in a loose ponytail. I was wearing sweats, a t-shirt, and cardigan. When I opened the door and hugged my mom, she paused for a minute and stared at me through glassy eyes.
I wasn’t sure what was wrong, or what she was thinking, so I just waited silently for her to reveal exactly what was on her mind.
“Awww, Dianna,” she said in a sing-song voice, breaking her silence. “You look just like you did when you were a little teenager living at home. You used to dress just like this and I had a flashback for a minute that made me teary!”
She flashed a big, bright, emotional smile. It was truly a sweet and tender moment, especially since, as a mom, I know what it’s like to look at my growing children and still just see “my babies.” In my mind, I know they’re getting older and changing daily. But there are random instances when I get a mental picture of them at an earlier stage that greatly differs from the real representation of their present characteristics and features. During these moments, I end up getting all nostalgic.
That’s exactly what happened to my mom. You should have seen her face. It was just so cute and sweet. After she left, I thought to myself, "I guess I do look a lot like I did when I was younger." But no matter how much about me has stayed the same outwardly, inwardly lives a more mature, stronger, wiser, bolder, spirit-led woman.
There is an invisible me, who is ultimately, the real me.
While others may not physically see the "invisible Dianna," every action I carry out in my physical body is a direct reflection of my heart—the most important part of me and you.
That's why it is so important to guard our hearts and allow God to search us daily, because our heart’s condition determines our life’s condition.
With this lesson in mind, I’m adding Proverbs 4:23 NIV to your cup of inspiration today. It says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” When you drink down the contents of your cup today, you’ll feel compelled to ask God for a heart check-up to make sure that the invisible you is intact. If it's not, your behaviors, attitudes, and actions will tell off on you.
I'm reminded of a scripture found in Jeremiah 17:9-10 NIV which says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind…”
Only He knows who we really are, which is why what He sees and says about us is most important of all. Good or bad, the Father knows us through and through. Remember what happened in 1 Samuel 16:7 when Israel was seeking a suitable King? The scripture says, “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.”
We don't want to be accepted by people and rejected by God because our invisible man is all torn up. On the flip side of that, we can't worry about being rejected by people, as long as the condition of our heart is pleasing to God.
The hidden matters of the heart are the most important matters.
Right now, I admonish you to join me in letting God look closely at your heart. I can say from experience, when you willingly submit to His process, He’ll do a thorough examination and remove anything that may be hindering you from being all He wants You to be.
God, I thank You for refocusing me with this word and reminding me that who I am inside is most important of all. No matter what people see, I want You to be pleased with what You see. Here I am Lord. Have Your way in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
