“As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects man.” Proverbs 27:1
God cares deeply about the true essence of a person. While humans may focus on outward appearances, God sees the heart. This verse highlights why the heart is so important—it reveals the true character of an individual. It’s easy to read this word and instantly think about how others can deceive us, but the focus should be on ourselves and how we might deceive ourselves.
Humans tend to value what they can see, which can often be a performance rather than the true self. This limitation necessitates relying on God for discernment to understand the heart of a person. Only by perceiving the true character of someone’s heart can we understand their real nature. Thus, it is essential to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our interactions with others, as He can discern hearts. Similarly, when we judge ourselves, our character, and our spiritual growth, we need to depend on God, who can reveal our true selves. Our daily focus should be growing our hearts to align with His.
Building our hearts to be hearts of character involves several key practices:
- Scripture Study: Meditate on the Word of God. Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
- Prayer: Regularly communicate with God. Philippians 4:6 reminds us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
- Community: Surround yourself with people who uplift and challenge you spiritually. Proverbs 27:17 tells us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
- Service: Engage in acts of kindness and service. Matthew 20:28 says, “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Examples from the Bible highlight the importance of a heart aligned with God:
- David: Known as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), David exhibited repentance, worship, and reliance on God despite his imperfections.
- Joseph: Despite numerous challenges, Joseph maintained his integrity and faithfulness to God, which ultimately led to his rise to power in Egypt (Genesis 39-41).
- Saul: King Saul, on the other hand, started well but allowed pride and disobedience to lead him astray, resulting in God rejecting him as king (1 Samuel 15:22-23).
- Judas Iscariot: Despite being one of Jesus’ disciples, Judas’ heart was not aligned with God’s, leading to his betrayal of Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16).
Maintaining these disciplines can be challenging due to the pervasive influence of social media. Social media can negatively impact our moral and character development by promoting superficial values, such as seeking approval through “likes” and “followers,” and fostering a culture of popularity and unrealistic standards of appearance. The more likes we get, the more we might think we’re on track, even if we are not. The constant need for instant gratification from social media can distract us from spending meaningful time with God and nurturing our spiritual growth.
Additionally, social media exposes us to a constant stream of information, which can be overwhelming and stressful. Clinical evidence supports the idea that elevated cortisol levels, often associated with chronic stress, can hinder our ability to engage in practices like meditation and prayer. A meta-analysis published in the Health Psychology Review found that meditation interventions significantly reduced cortisol levels in at-risk populations, suggesting that stress management techniques can contribute to well-being. However, chronic stress and high cortisol levels can negatively impact mental health, making it difficult to maintain spiritual disciplines.
To understand one’s true self, it is vital to examine what consumes the heart. The struggle with distractions such as social media can hinder one’s spiritual growth. Instant gratification from these sources can weaken faith and intimacy with God. True healing and joy come from spending time with God, which requires faith and perseverance.
Let us pray for restoration and a renewed love for God’s word. May today be the beginning of a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with Him.
Reference
Health Psychology Review – Meditation Interventions and Cortisol Levels
Wells of Wonder 