OUR HEART

“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

King James Version

My best friend gave me a picture of herself.  She is a beautiful lady to look at, but far more important she has a beautiful heart.  She has a heart that is filled with love for Jesus, for her family and for her friends.  This is what impresses God, what is in our heart.  We worry so much about our outward appearance and I am guilty of doing this, but God is looking at what is in our heart.

I am so glad that when I was saved, Jesus gave me a new heart because I was a very hateful person.  My heart before I was saved was filled with hatred, resentment, criticism and all other things that hurt God and break His heart.  We read in the Bible.  “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:” (Ezekiel 11:19).

Rev. Rufus McDaniel wrote a hymn that describes me since Jesus saved me “Since Jesus Came into My Heart”.  “What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought Since Jesus came into my heart! I have light in my soul for which long I had sought, Since Jesus came into my heart!  Since Jesus came into my heart, Since Jesus came into my heart, Floods of joy o’er my soul Like the sea billows roll, Since Jesus came into my heart.”

There are no words to describe how much I love Jesus and how grateful I am to Him for dying on the cross for my sins so I could be saved and go to Heaven when I die.  James Rowe wrote another hymn that I love “Love Lifted Me”.  I love the words in this inspiring hymn.  “Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help Love lifted me! Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help Love lifted me!”

We can give our family and friends big and expensive gifts but if we don’t give them love, none of the gifts mean anything.  It is very important that we not only tell people we love them but also thank them for what they have done for us.  Several years ago, I called a friend to thank her for what she had done for me.  Her son answered the telephone and said “Mom died three months ago”.  It broke my heart.  I had waited too long to thank her.

A pastor who was preaching about love and thanking people said “My uncle raised me and I loved him very much and was grateful to him for all he did for me.  I decided to call him and thank him for raising me and loving me.  However, I waited too long to tell him.  The day that I decided to call him, I found out that he had died the day before.”

Please don’t wait!  Tell your family and your loved ones how much you love them and appreciate them but more important than this, tell Jesus you love and appreciate Him.  When is the last time you said “Jesus, I love You”?  Jesus has feelings too.  He knows our heart but He wants us to tell Him that we love Him.  Do you love Him?  If so, what are you doing to prove to Him that you love Him?

Joanne Lowe

August 6, 2019