Hidden Beauty

Hidden Beauty - What's in your heart?

Recently, I have come to the conclusion that the most courageous thing a person can do in their life is to ask God to show them what is in their own heart.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me.

And lead me in the way everlasting."

Psalm 139:23 and 24 NKJV

It is my opinion that King David, who wrote these words, was the apple of God's eye mainly for his humility before God in his willingness to let the Holy Spirit shine His light upon his heart. God certainly took David up on his request. David's heart was laid bare on many occasions. Ugly stuff was exposed and repented of, and what was left was as fine gold.

In 1970 I had the opportunity to take a guided tour of Florence, Italy. I was in the U.S. Navy at the time and I was determined to see all I could when I visited different ports of call. Only four years earlier, Florence had suffered the worst flooding since the fifteenth century. Countless pieces of art and literature were either damaged or destroyed. It was truly a devastating loss of some of the finest art accomplishments of man. Yet in the midst of such a mess of water, mud, and debris, a rare work of beauty came to see the light of day.

In the Cathedral of Florence and some other buildings of the city, the flood had washed away paintings that were indeed beautiful, only to expose art work from an earlier period in history. These newly exposed fresco paintings were the original masterpieces painted upon the walls of these exquisite buildings. Skilled art restorers worked to fully bring the originally intended beauty to the surface.

Today people go about living their life as best they can in spite of the many hurts and wounds their hearts have endured. Many even paint the picture that their life is exactly as God would have it. Even though their life might look good to others, the picture they are presenting to the world is painted upon a much wounded heart. These paintings are but cheap amateur representations of their true identity.

If you will have the courage to ask God to examine your heart, He will come in not as a raging flood to clean out your heart, but as a gentle art restorer. Through the skill of the Holy Spirit, old hurts, wounds, sins, and judgments are removed to allow the original masterpiece of who God made you to be, to once again see the light of day.

The Lord has allowed Feed My Lambs Ministries to work in this area of heart restoration.

We have been blessed to see many people rediscover the Hidden Beauty of their own heart through the powerful working of the Holy Spirit.

Let's pray,

Father I think I know who I am, but I realize I also have a heart which has been wounded. I too have received hurts, and the scarring from my sinful life has left its mark within my heart. Please Father, search my heart, and help me to be healed of all past hurts, wounds, sin, and judgments. If I need help from someone within the body of Christ, to work through this healing, please direct me to those who you would have me go to for prayer. With your help I look forward to showing forth a heart of fine gold. It is in Jesus' name that I pray.

Amen

I have always enjoyed thinking deeply upon the Word of God and especially how it relates to life today. As a Christian writer I would appreciate your feedback on my "Reflections". All comments are welcomed and appreciated. Hope you had a chance to read our July Newsletter. It was full of exciting reports of all that the Father is doing for His kids!

Love and prayers, Randy

email me at: smithstraveling@yahoo.com or call: 941-697-6564

Thank you and may you be blessed in the Father's embrace today.

Randy Smith

PO Box 549

Placida, FL 33946 please visit: www.feedmylambsministries.org