Inventory of the Heart ~ Part 3

Are You Hiding Secrets?

John 13:35 "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."


It is my opinion that we women are very good at smiling on the outside at one another, while all the time concealing feelings that betray our true heart in a matter. How many times have you been secretly pleased over the misfortune of another. Perhaps a sister in the church is going through some adversity and in the quiet recesses of your heart, you are secretly feeling she deserves it. Have you ever brought yourself into question over why you feel that way?

Perhaps you are secretly annoyed over the accomplishments or blessings of another person or their family. One of the saddest things in Christianity today is when brethren cannot rejoice with one another over obvious blessings of the Lord. Call it jealousy… call it self-centeredness….call it whatever you'd like, but some people who call themselves Christians, just cannot say to someone else, "I'm so happy for you"! Why is it that way?

The answer: There is a problem with our heart and our love is not real!

The Apostle Paul was exhorting the Romans in Romans 12:15 when he said that they should, "Rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that weep." Don't say you love the brethren and then find yourself secretly pleased with the misfortune that comes their way.

Ask yourself: Is there anyone that I find myself secretly pleased when hardship comes into their life? Is there anyone that I find myself annoyed with because of their accomplishments or blessings that have come their way?

Answering these questions honestly, will reveal the true condition of our heart. Too many women love to talk about themselves and their own family but take little time to "esteem other better than themselves". Their life really is….all about them!

Are there people that you deliberately slight or stay away from? Why? Do they intimidate you for some reason? Do you feel inferior to them in any way? Why are you allowing yourself to live in estrangement from your Christian brothers and sisters? It is one thing if they have ordered you out of their life. That then, becomes their problem. But for us to just tip-toe around the friendship bush, acting like we love the brethren (when we really don't), is pure hypocrisy. These kinds of feelings just reveal our own lack of holiness and judgmental attitudes. In reality, the people we find ourselves wanting to avoid, are the very ones we need to reach out to and esteem better than our own selves the most. God will bless that kind of heart!

Answering these questions will reveal your heart's secrets. Take the time to pause long enough to calculate a precise inventory of what motivates you in your relationship to others.

Are you guilty of being contentious or stirring up strife? Did you know that you can be contentious with another person and never open your mouth? You do it in your spirit and then proceed to just avoid that person. That is ungodly behavior that stifles unity and repentance is needed.

Have you ever allowed yourself to be a partaker in gossip or divisive speaking? All these things are hypocrisies of the heart and they reveal a soul in need of cleansing and renewing of the Holy Spirit of God!

Ladies, can I encourage you to honestly take an inventory of the secret places in your heart. Places that may only be seen by you alone. What you keep secret…will be revealed in your spirit! Malachi 2:15 "…Therefore take heed to your spirit…"

If you make God---your God….you also make God's people---your people! As Ruth did with Naomi, so also should we do as fellow sisters in Christ. Do you?

Ruth 1:16 "And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God."

We are a family of believers in Christ. Shouldn't we live like the family of God ought to live?

How are things looking in your heart?