“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 16:7b NCV

One gorgeous spring day, I spent time pulling weeds and cleaning flower beds in my back yard. This task can be daunting as these beds are the last ones to get cleaned. We typically focus on our front yard because many more people see it as they pass by.

I had just started the second flower bed when the Lord used “weed pulling” as an object lesson. Samuel’s words filled my mind. “God doesn’t look at what people can see He looks at the heart.” I wondered for a moment about how people see me. “What does my inside look like?”

Since God is the only one who truly sees my heart, does the content therein match the way I “appear” on the outside? When people look at me, do they see a reflection of Jesus? Just like the flower beds each spring, there will always be “weeds to pull” in my life. Praise God He is continually at work “weeding out” the bad so the beauty of His handiwork can be revealed.

Lord, help me be mindful of my heart’s condition. I want to be a reflection of you.