Friday, February 15, 2008

God Sees Your Heart

The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

Have you ever been forced to take a good look at yourself and find that you see some ugly things in your character? You know, the times when you think the worst of someone or hurt someone or lose your temper or get caught talking negatively about another person? As women, when we are faced with our own shortcomings and sins it's easy to feel "less-than" and to battle with feelings of inferiority. Thankfully, God doesn't see us as the sum of our faults. He sees us for who we are, the whole person. He sees our heart.

Take Abraham, for instance. Did you know that Abraham and Job lived at approximately the same time? Job was holy and upright. He led a blameless life, so much so that Satan focused a lot of effort on trying to undermine his faith. Abraham, on the other hand, had a real problem with lying. Over and over again he lied and lost his temper. Satan didn't really have to worry about Abraham much... he messed up on his own with little help. But between the two -- Abraham and Job -- who did God choose to be the father of His chosen people? He chose Abraham!

David is another good example. He was often depressed, he had an innocent man murdered, and he committed adultery. And yet He was God's chosen King, the one through whom Christ would come many years later.

The most important thing in each of these two men was their heart. They loved God with all of their heart. When they sinned, they admitted it and repented. They lived their lives for God and He blessed them for it.

Don't ever let yourself feel too fault-ridden to be used or loved by God. He sees your heart and He loves you for who you are, not for who you're not.