Spiritual Minute: Daily Devotional

Every year I go to the doctor for my annual check up. My prompt to go get a check up is not indicative of whether I am feeling good or bad, but it has become common practice in order to assure I am proactive and not reactive when it comes to my health and well being. Many times even though we feel good, and are even asymptomatic, there are test that reveal that there are things in our health that need attention. How often do we take the time and do the same kind of self examination when it comes to our spiritual health.

In the bible the Pharisees accused Jesus and His followers of breaking religious traditions by not washing their hands before they ate. Jesus responded by saying that the Pharisees had laid aside commands of God for man-made religious traditions. He reminded them that kingdom righteousness was not viewed from the outside-in, but kingdom righteousness was viewed from the inside-out. Jesus pulls them on the carpet and lets them know, that many look impressive, but their hearts are diseased and distant.

Here's what Jesus said in Matthew 15:8- "these people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me”. We often become disappointed at the actions or lack thereof of other people, but we must be reminded that things are not always as they appear.

A preacher visited an old lady from his congregation. As he sat on the sofa he noticed a big bowl of peanuts on the coffee table. "Do you mind if I have a few?" he asked. "No not at all the old lady replied." They chatted for an hour and when the preacher stood to leave he noticed that instead of eating a few peanuts, he'd emptied most of the bowl. "I'm really sorry for eating all your peanuts, I meant to eat just a few," he said. "Oh that's okay," she replied. "Ever since I lost my teeth, all I can do is suck the chocolate from them anyway." Yep! Things are not always as they appear....

Spiritual health is not determined by how we look, or even what we say, but by how we live. Paul understood the severity of our sinful nature, by declaring he had to die daily. Are you spiritually in line with Gods will for your life? Don't look in the mirror,looks can be deceiving. For this you will need to check your heart. The Psalmist said "create in me a clean heart O Lord and renew the right spirit within me"

There are some things, some people, some places and some mindsets, that have become a direct hinderance to your spiritual health. They are strong holds, deception, weakness, distractions, all which can be overcome with a sincere heart check. Psalm 129:23 says - "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts".

Back in the day we used to say " Check yourself, before you wreck yourself" . A heart check can and will literally change your life. I Samuel 16:7(b) says- The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Selah