The Lens of Love

The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. – (1 Samuel 16:7b, NLT)

God doesn’t look at what people see. People judge by what is on the outside, but the Lord looks at the heart. – (1 Samuel 16:7b, ERV)

God doesn’t look at things like humans do. Humans only see what is visible to the eyes, but the Lord sees into the heart. – (1 Samuel 16:7b, CEB)

 

I am so grateful that God sees beyond the exterior that we present to the world and gets to the heart of the matter. He sees faith, hope and love, even when the world cannot. God will take the smallest seed of good and grow it into something greater. People tend to notice faults, whereas God sees strength and beauty and potential in the glory of His created. The more we seek and depend on Him, the more we begin to see others through His eyes. May we pursue the Lord with our whole hearts so that we may see others through the lens of His love.

 

Judge not appearance, 

Of all those you see;

But look at the heart,

And love lavishly.

For that which is seen,

It never will last;

Yet the heart God sees,

Created, steadfast.

Let’s look at others,

Through Love’s lavish lens;

To see true beauty,

And choose grace extend.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You do not look at us the same way that people do. Thank You that You look past how things appear and get straight to the heart. You see and You know the heart of the matter, and You love us through it all. Thank You that Your love shows us how we are meant to love one another. Forgive us for the times that we judge people or circumstances based on what we see. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would look to You to learn the heart rather than superficial appearances. Show us how to see others through Your lens of love so that we can extend the same goodness and grace to others that we have so generously been given. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek to see others through Your lens of love. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

They will celebrate Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness. – Psalm 145:7

Trust in the Unseen

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. – (Hebrews 11:1, NIV)

Faith is what makes real the things we hope for. It is proof of what we cannot see. – (Hebrews 11:1, ERV)

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. – (Hebrews 11:1, MSG)

Faith is the assurance of things you have hoped for, the absolute conviction that there are realities you’ve never seen. – (Hebrews 11:1, VOICE)

 

Faith is what happens when we allow our hearts to hold onto the hope of that which we cannot yet see. Though it may start small, if we nurture our faith and allow it to grow, mountains that appear to be a road block from forging forward, may be moved by faith. God uses the smallest seed of faith to grow and develop our fortitude and trust in Him, into something that becomes taller and further reaching than we know. By faith, seeming impossibilities become possible. As our hope lies in He who gives us life and love and good things, that which we cannot see begins to become reality. May we choose to hold hope, even in that which we cannot see, and trust in Him who can make the things hoped for our new reality.

 

Faith is confidence, 

In what we hope for;

Trust in the unseen,

As God unlocks doors.

It moves us forward,

When we cannot see;

It grants us the strength,

To simply believe.

Faith’s the foundation,

Of all good in life;

Our confident hope,

That helps us to thrive.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our Source of faith and in Whom we place our hope. Thank You that faith makes hope reality, regardless of what we see. Forgive us for our lack of faith, as we tend to trust in that which we can see with our own eyes. Teach us to have faith in You and all that You are doing in and through us. Show us how to hold fast to hope in that which we cannot yet see. Lead us to love those around us well, so that they may find faith that grows. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we have faith in what we hope for and trust in that which we cannot see. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. – Job 8:21

 

 

Begin and End with Faith

God’s way of making people right begins and ends with faith. – (Romans 1:17b, ERV)

 

God calls us righteous before Him when we seek Him and trust that He is who He says He is. It is not through our doing enough nor being enough, but rather it is only by faith that we are saved. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. – (Hebrews 11:6, NIV)

 

Though there may be times that faith seems difficult to find, when we choose to trust in spite of what we see, God moves in ways we would never have imagined. He makes a way where there seems to be no way, and grants strength where strength is all but gone. He sees our hearts, despite how we feel in a fleeting moment. May we trust in the Lord and His unfailing love, as He will take even the smallest seed of faith and grow it into one that can move mountains on His behalf.

 

Let us choose to trust,

The Lord who is good;

For in Him abounds,

Grace not understood.

He takes our small faith,

And begins to move;

The reward of peace,

As His presence proves.

By faith we’re made right,

In the Lord’s own eyes;

He’s pleased when we seek,

Our hope realized.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we are made right before You by faith. Thank You that You are pleased when we trust in who You are and how You love. Forgive us for making You too small when the obstacles before us are overwhelming. Teach us to trust in You, no matter what we see. Lead us to love others with a love that moves mountains and grows faith all the more. May many choose to place their trust in You, and enter into an eternal relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we choose to place our faith in You alone. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Shout aloud and sing for joy. – Isaiah 12:6