Making the Inside Count

It’s really easy to focus a lot of our attention on our outside appearance. This means not only our physical appearance, but also having others perceive us as strong, independent, perfect, all-together–you name it. When we put so much work into how we look on the outside, it can be easy to neglect what’s on the inside. The Bible talks about how God actually cares about who we are on the inside, and that if we take care of our inside life, everything else will fall into place. These Scriptures can help us learn how to make the inside count.

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:3-4‬ ‭GW
Wives must not let their beauty be something external. Beauty doesn’t come from hairstyles, gold jewelry, or clothes. Rather, beauty is something internal that can’t be destroyed. Beauty expresses itself in a gentle and quiet attitude which God considers precious.

1 Samuel‬ ‭16:7‬ ‭ERV‬‬
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Eliab is tall and handsome, but don’t judge by things like that. God doesn’t look at what people see. People judge by what is on the outside, but the Lord looks at the heart. Eliab is not the right man.”

Matthew‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭MSG‬‬
“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭51:16-17‬ ‭MSG‬‬
Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.

Psalm 26:2-3 Voice
Put me on trial and examine me, O Eternal One! Search me through and through-from my deepest longings to every thought that crosses my mind. [3] Your unfailing love is always before me; I have journeyed down Your path of truth.

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:8-10‬ ‭ERV‬‬
I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me. But the Lord said, “My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.” So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can stay in me. Yes, I am glad to have weaknesses if they are for Christ. I am glad to be insulted and have hard times. I am glad when I am persecuted and have problems, because it is when I am weak that I am really strong.