Glory Seed Devotionals, 2015: Year of Promise
God is an Insider God…

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t look at how handsome Eliab is or how tall he is, because I have not chosen him. God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart.”” (1 Samuel 16:7, NCV, emphasis added)
There's a television commercial that ends with this question: “What's in your wallet?” Of all the questions God asks us (even though he already knows the answer) this question is among the most important: “What's in your heart?”

“Lord, you have examined me and know all about me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know where I go and where I lie down. You know everything I do. Lord, even before I say a word, you already know it. You are all around me—in front and in back— and have put your hand on me. Your knowledge is amazing to me; it is more than I can understand.” (Psalm 139:1–6, NCV)

Even though the Psalmist (and Isaiah) say we'll never fully understand God or why he asks such questions I think God asks us what's in our hearts because he wants to know if we're “flesh lead” or “heart lead”. He wants to know if we're motivated by our “fleshy desires” or our “heart desires” Whether we realize it or not our answer to what's in our hearts will determine whether or not God blesses us. “Do what the Lord wants, and he will give you your heart’s desire.” (Psalm 37:4, CEV)

And what does God want from us? “...The Lord wants you to respect and follow him, to love and serve him with all your heart and soul, and to obey his laws and teachings... Do this, and all will go well for you.” (Deuteronomy 10:12–13, CEV, selected portions) Often we are under the impression that only God has the final say over if our prayers lead to blessings however, that is not totally true because the determining answer falls back on us and what's really in our hearts.

So like the man in the commercial – What's in your heart?”

Believe! Anticipate! Experience! Be transformed!
Grace and PEACE, Amen!
Gary

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“I pray that the Lord will bless your life and will be kind to you.” (2 Timothy 4:22, CEV)

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Scriptures marked CEV, “Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.”

"Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, New Century Version, copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, Dallas, Texas 75039. Used by permission."