Romans 12:2 (NLT) “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
I was flipping the channel one day and came across a new reality show. Typically, I pass on those, but this one caught my attention. The young men and women were on the show to find their perfect match, and were given a test called ‘Don’t Judge a Book by Its’ Cover.” The women were shown a picture of an average-looking guy who loved God and had Christian values. When asked whether any one of them would date a man like him, surprisingly, all were emphatically against the idea of being with this average-looking man who had a strong Christian background. When a more attractive man with the same values was revealed, all the women were on board with dating him.
Jesus Christ said in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” The willingness of these women changed based on the appearance of the man; there was no consideration given to the kind of heart he may have had. The world has a completely different standard when it comes to what makes a quality mate. Some women are uber focused on looks, others on what’s in his wallet. Romans 12:2 warns us not to copy the world’s patterns, but to change the way we think and model our thoughts after Christ; then God will transform us from the inside out.
You might have it settled in your mind that you want a certain type of man, but it is quite possible that the major characteristics you desire are completely opposite from what God knows you need. This presents a gap, and it will only be closed by spiritual preparation. It will only be closed by the spiritual maturity to trust that God knows best, and we need to line up with what He presents. Any time that we place limitations on how, what, when, and where God blesses us, we are not operating out of faith, but out of fear. We have fear that God will not meet our expectations, or we fear losing control over this area of our lives.
One thing is for sure, God wants us to have hearts that are pure towards Him and His Word. When we talk about God’s Word being rooted and grounded in our lives, we’re talking about the commitment we must make to stand on God’s principles, promises, and statues. This means that we are required to change our thoughts to honor the lives of those who have hearts that are pure towards God. That’s what’s important to Him, and it should be to us as well.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Desire A Pure Heart”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2017. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.