It’s an Inside Out Thing Not Outside In

I woke up this morning feeling beat up recognizing that a full day is ahead of me lasting until 8:00 tonight.  My first responsibility is to get a devotional out to you that will help support your day; however, my heart is stale needing to be refreshed. 

In each of our relationships with Him, Jesus always starts with our heart.  He never begins by telling us what we need to do but focuses on who are we.  It’s an inside out thing not outside in.  It is all about the heart.  Proverbs 4:23 tells us why, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”  True life begins with the heart because “everything you do flows from it.”  Jeremiah 17:9 warns us, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it?”  How’s your heart?  

Christ began His ministry discussing the “beatitudes”, attitudes of the heart that are in synch with Him and Who He is.  He never starts by talking about what we do but who we are at the heart level.  Each “beatitude” begins with the word, “blessed”, meaning enjoying God, His presence, and His goodness.  Being blessed emanates from the heart.  Jesus tells us what He wants our heart to look like in Matthew 5:3-12:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”

 Once the attitude of our heart is synched up with Him, Jesus says we will “¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.”

I do not know the condition of your heart today.  Hopefully, you are not starting the day on empty like I did.  Reflecting on Him and His grace has recharged me.  It all begins with the heart…it’s an inside out thing not outside in.