April 7 - Heart Check

APRIL 7 - Heart Check3-Year-Bible Reading: Proverbs 14:1-2; Mark 7//3-Year Bible (Year 1) Devotional Book Available on Amazon//________________________________________“The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is devious in his ways despises him.” — Proverbs 14:1-2“And he said to them, ‘Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”’” — Mark 7:6“There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” — Mark 7:15________________________________________Have you ever said all the right things but still felt off inside? Or looked like you had it together on the outside, but deep down your heart wasn’t in the right place? In Mark 7, Jesus confronts the religious leaders who were super focused on rituals and appearances but completely missed the heart behind it all. They honored God with their lips, but their hearts were far away. That’s a big deal to Jesus—He cares more about what’s going on inside us than what we try to show others.In Proverbs 14:1-2, we’re reminded that wisdom builds while foolishness tears down. Living wisely means walking in “uprightness,” or doing what’s right because we respect and love God. But when we’re only pretending to follow God—doing the actions without the heart—we’re not really walking with Him.God sees beyond our filters and facades. He’s not impressed by a fake version of faith. Instead, He invites us to bring Him our real selves, flaws and all, and let Him shape us from the inside out.________________________________________THINK ABOUT IT1. What’s Really Going On in Your Heart? Are you doing things to look good or to truly grow in your relationship with God?2. More Than Just the Outside: How can you focus less on appearances and more on your inner life with God—your thoughts, motives, and attitude?3. Building or Tearing Down? Are your actions and words building others up or pulling them down? What does that say about the state of your heart?________________________________________BOTTOM LINEGod doesn’t want empty words or surface-level faith—He wants your heart. Let Him shape who you are from the inside out, so you can live wisely and reflect His love in a real, powerful way.________________________________________PRAYERHeavenly Father, thank You for loving me even when I don’t get it all right. Help me not to focus just on appearances but to truly give You my heart. Shape me from the inside out. Teach me to walk wisely, build others up, and live in a way that honors You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.