What’s on the Inside

I put on a lot of extra pounds during my last pregnancy. Eating the kids’ leftovers and staying up snacking at night after the kids have gone to bed has really gotten me into trouble. I’m anxious to get back into my pre-pregnancy clothes and to get my body in shape. My poor eating habits and lack of exercise have started having a negative reflection in my health numbers too. Unfortunately, I’ve been more concerned about my physical appearance than about my physical health.

Unfortunately, I am also commonly more concerned about my outward spiritual appearance than concerned about my inward spiritual health. I wonder how often I elevate having a good Christian persona above humbly coming before God with repentance and faith. I wonder how often I focus on behavior modification with my kids rather than focus on shepherding their hearts.

When the prophet Samuel was tasked with finding the next king of the Israelites, he focused on the outward physical appearance.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)

Jesus warned the scribes and Pharisees about their focus on the outward spiritual appearance.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Matthew 23:27-28 (ESV)

God help me to be concerned about the state of my heart rather than how I outwardly appear. Teach me to shepherd my children’s hearts instead of simply training them to have good behaviors.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.

Psalm 139:23-24 (CSB)