1 00:00:02,650 --> 00:00:15,130 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:10,830 --> 00:00:14,070 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We're so glad to have 3 00:00:14,110 --> 00:00:18,460 Speaker 2: you listening. I'm Lynette Kittle and today's topic is What 4 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:21,939 Speaker 2: is your life reflecting about your heart? We'll be right 5 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:38,330 Speaker 2: back after a brief message from our sponsor. What is 6 00:00:38,370 --> 00:00:41,830 Speaker 2: your life reflecting about your heart? Written and read by 7 00:00:41,870 --> 00:00:46,470 Speaker 2: Lynette Kittle. As water reflects the face, so one's life 8 00:00:46,570 --> 00:00:52,810 Speaker 2: reflects the heart. Proverbs 27, 19. What are our lives 9 00:00:52,870 --> 00:00:56,630 Speaker 2: reflecting to those around us? How are our words and 10 00:00:56,850 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 2: actions revealing what is within our hearts and what we 11 00:01:01,020 --> 00:01:05,539 Speaker 2: really believe? Too many of us know or have known 12 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:09,970 Speaker 2: individuals who say they are Christians, yet their actions tell 13 00:01:10,030 --> 00:01:14,350 Speaker 2: another story, one that doesn't support what their words are confessing. 14 00:01:15,230 --> 00:01:18,590 Speaker 2: Proverbs points out that how we're living is truly a 15 00:01:18,810 --> 00:01:23,150 Speaker 2: reflection of our hearts. So if we're saying one thing 16 00:01:23,530 --> 00:01:27,069 Speaker 2: but living in another way, the truth is in our reflection. 17 00:01:27,690 --> 00:01:30,369 Speaker 2: If we think we're hiding what's in our hearts, we 18 00:01:30,430 --> 00:01:34,450 Speaker 2: need to reconsider because we can't really hide what's going 19 00:01:34,580 --> 00:01:38,140 Speaker 2: on inside of us. If we say we love God, 20 00:01:38,580 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 2: but then our words and actions don't align with His 21 00:01:41,180 --> 00:01:45,780 Speaker 2: words and commands, we may fool a few people, or 22 00:01:45,900 --> 00:01:51,350 Speaker 2: even many. But we may be mostly fooling ourselves. The 23 00:01:51,390 --> 00:01:55,610 Speaker 2: following are alarming reflections, the things rooted in our hearts, 24 00:01:56,190 --> 00:01:59,610 Speaker 2: that we may be missing that are fooling us. Are 25 00:01:59,630 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 2: we impatient, not wanting to hear what others have to 26 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:08,670 Speaker 2: say or explain? wanting to express our own viewpoints? If so, 27 00:02:08,910 --> 00:02:13,250 Speaker 2: it's wise for us to consider what Proverbs 18.2 describes, 28 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:18,399 Speaker 2: fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing 29 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 2: their own opinions. As well, do we really enjoy hearing 30 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:28,100 Speaker 2: all the wild and evil schemes others devise? Are shows 31 00:02:28,190 --> 00:02:32,669 Speaker 2: and stories on true crimes more interesting to us than 32 00:02:32,690 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 2: the Bible and godly programming? If so, Proverbs 10.23 reveals 33 00:02:39,180 --> 00:02:43,260 Speaker 2: that a fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a 34 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 2: person of understanding delights in wisdom. When we're faced with 35 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:52,940 Speaker 2: deciding between following God's wisdom or choosing to follow the 36 00:02:52,990 --> 00:02:56,690 Speaker 2: wisdom of men, what do we choose? Are we finding 37 00:02:56,750 --> 00:03:00,109 Speaker 2: ourselves trusting more in what men and women tell us 38 00:03:00,690 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 2: than God? John 2, 23-24 tells us what Jesus would do. 39 00:03:07,180 --> 00:03:11,060 Speaker 2: Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover festival, 40 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:15,300 Speaker 2: many people saw the signs he was performing and believed 41 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:19,310 Speaker 2: in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, 42 00:03:19,830 --> 00:03:23,930 Speaker 2: for he knew all people. If we find ourselves thinking 43 00:03:23,970 --> 00:03:28,290 Speaker 2: we're too wise or important to listen to or consider others' 44 00:03:28,370 --> 00:03:32,209 Speaker 2: words spoken to us, we may want to consider what 45 00:03:32,270 --> 00:03:37,350 Speaker 2: Proverbs 23.9 describes. Do not speak to fools, for they 46 00:03:37,370 --> 00:03:42,350 Speaker 2: will scorn your prudent words. Do we see ourselves as 47 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 2: smarter than everyone around us? If so, we may want 48 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 2: to contemplate what Proverbs 26.5 describes. Answer a fool according 49 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,850 Speaker 2: to his folly, or he will be wise in his 50 00:03:57,030 --> 00:04:01,270 Speaker 2: own eyes. Maybe those around us are not just pointing 51 00:04:01,390 --> 00:04:05,150 Speaker 2: out when we're in error, letting us think we're always right. 52 00:04:05,670 --> 00:04:09,660 Speaker 2: If so, we're in danger of being deceived and led 53 00:04:09,820 --> 00:04:14,700 Speaker 2: into making foolish choices. Do we see ourselves as better 54 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:19,500 Speaker 2: than others? If so, as Proverbs 16, 18 warns, we 55 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,670 Speaker 2: may not know when we're in pride and at risk 56 00:04:22,890 --> 00:04:28,489 Speaker 2: of falling. Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before 57 00:04:28,510 --> 00:04:32,380 Speaker 2: a fall. It seems like pride may be kind of 58 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:36,230 Speaker 2: hidden for anyone who is prideful and not an easy 59 00:04:36,390 --> 00:04:41,310 Speaker 2: attitude for most to detect in ourselves. But, as Proverbs 60 00:04:41,310 --> 00:04:47,420 Speaker 2: 11.2 warns, when pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility 61 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 2: comes wisdom. It's wise for us to take stock of 62 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:55,860 Speaker 2: ourselves now and then, just to double-check ourselves to see 63 00:04:55,900 --> 00:04:59,230 Speaker 2: if we've gotten off track in our lives. derailed a 64 00:04:59,250 --> 00:05:03,380 Speaker 2: bit from where God is leading us. We can also 65 00:05:03,540 --> 00:05:07,039 Speaker 2: ask God to examine and expose our hearts so that 66 00:05:07,060 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 2: we may recognize and deal with any wrong thoughts, attitudes, 67 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:16,060 Speaker 2: and actions. Also, we can ask Him to strengthen and 68 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:20,620 Speaker 2: help us to reflect Him and His Word through our lives. 69 00:05:21,620 --> 00:05:25,740 Speaker 2: Intersecting Faith in Life What is your life reflecting about 70 00:05:25,779 --> 00:05:29,940 Speaker 2: your heart? If not liking what's being reflected, ask God 71 00:05:29,980 --> 00:05:32,620 Speaker 2: to help you to see clearly and to lead you 72 00:05:32,660 --> 00:05:36,820 Speaker 2: with His Word and godly principles so that others are 73 00:05:36,860 --> 00:05:40,270 Speaker 2: drawn to Him through what they are seeing in you. 74 00:05:41,390 --> 00:05:49,089 Speaker 2: Further reading, Five Ways Christians Can Reflect Christ Through Everyday Etiquette. 75 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to today's devotional. If you liked what 76 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:58,109 Speaker 1: you heard today, We want to make sure you know 77 00:05:58,170 --> 00:06:02,110 Speaker 1: about our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer. When you follow 78 00:06:02,150 --> 00:06:05,470 Speaker 1: Your Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app, you'll get 79 00:06:05,490 --> 00:06:08,630 Speaker 1: a brand new prayer and devotional each day so your 80 00:06:08,650 --> 00:06:12,289 Speaker 1: days begin in conversation with God. If you're looking to 81 00:06:12,330 --> 00:06:15,090 Speaker 1: grow in prayer or start your day with your heart 82 00:06:15,170 --> 00:06:19,250 Speaker 1: focused on the right things, search for Your Daily Prayer 83 00:06:19,589 --> 00:06:22,430 Speaker 1: in your favorite podcast app and be sure to follow 84 00:06:22,470 --> 00:06:25,390 Speaker 1: the show so you get a new prayer delivered straight 85 00:06:25,470 --> 00:06:30,620 Speaker 1: to you each morning. Thank you.