For as a man thinks in his heart, so he is.
Proverbs 23:7
A God honoring attitude does not develop because one attempts to smile harder. A right attitude does not become reality because one forces a polite action or word. The right attitude develops when genuinely honoring Jesus with the whole heart.
Do you remember this scene from childhood?
After some type of sibling conflict, your mom or dad takes you by the arm, stands you in front of your brother or sister, and then firmly guides your words with, “now say I’m sorry.”
The simple but very real contradiction is that the one needing to apologize can say, “I am sorry,” while maintaining the very negative attitude that caused the conflict in the first place. No change; Just a bad attitude camouflaged with right words and right actions.
During a Sunday morning church service, a mother asked her son to stand up as the hymn singing began. The young boy shook his head in resistance. She whispered again in a tone that would not interrupt the worship service, “stand up while we sing.” Again, the little boy shook his head, “no.” So, the mom instructed one last time with a firmer voice, “stand up now!” The little fellow slowly stood up. He then leaned toward his mom and whispered, “I’m standing up on the outside but I’m sitting down on the inside.”
This little anecdote has a piercing reality. There are times we know we should be kind to someone who has hurt our feelings. There are times we should say, “I’m sorry.” And many times we follow through with every part of our being except our heart. We show kindness to someone with whom we have taken offense. But our kind gestures and words hide the negative sentiments and unkind attitudes that continue to grow in our hearts. We utter, “I forgive you,” but walk away with a continued grudge because we refuse to let go of the hurt.
Isn’t this realty amazingly deceptive?! We can follow through with right actions and correctly stated words guising our very negative attitudes. And, usually no one is the wiser. Butthe truth is there nonetheless: a negative attitude you refuse to dismiss has become the real condition of your heart.
The grandest lesson from such a conflicting reality is the necessity to repent of the negative that remains unspoken and absent from actions, yet very present in the heart. The Bible reminds us:
“For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).
So today, don’t just make your talk and actions right. Check the heart. What good is a right word or deed when the heart is not in agreement? Allow God to confront the unseen and unspoken of the heart. Then, genuinely ask for forgiveness from the one you have silently and secretly resented, and ask for forgiveness from your Heavenly Father. In this way you will most assuredly go forward in freedom and peace.
Blessings.
