• Blog
    • All Posts
    • Write for Salt + Sparrow
    • Contributors
  • Spiritual Growth
    • Personal Testimonies
    • Spiritual Growth Scriptures
  • Devotionals
    • Bible Studies
    • Prayers
  • Christian Lifestyle
    • Christian Poetry
    • Motherhood
    • Purpose
  • Christian Resources
    • Christian Blogging Tips

Salt + Sparrow

He Looks at the heart
Spiritual Growth

God Looks at the Heart

October 3, 2021

At first glance, the water glass on the left of a fancy Italian restaurant seems more appealing than that on the right. Only because it is transparent, showing the clarity one assumes is synonymous with cleanliness. 

However, upon taking a drink of both waters, I much preferred the one on the right. It was chilled, and while not as transparent as the first glass, the cool water met the need of my parched throat in ways the liquid at tepid room temperature assuredly did not. 

So often in life we get caught up in appearances. The way a person dresses or speaks publicly. The awards on the wall of a well-to-do business mogul. The type of car a person drives or the respectful neighborhood in which he resides. It is easy to make assumptions about others based on what we see. 

Yet. 

What we see is not always an accurate portrayal of the truth. Is it? Just because a person appears to have it all together, behind the walls of her fabulously impressive penthouse on 5th Avenue, she may well be fighting an epic emotional battle deeply hidden from the world. 

In Luke 21:1-4, many can recite the parable told in Vacation Bible School to young children:

“21 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

Luke 21:1-4

Obviously, there was nothing magical about the widow’s small offering, compared to the rich man’s large offering. The difference was solely in the heart of the giver. It often seems the less one has, the more generous a spirit they display to those surrounding them. On the other hand, some of the wealthiest folks in the world, might be considered Scrooge’s by those who know them best. 

We are never as rich as when considered “poor in spirit” by earthly standards. This is when we access the full benefit of God’s grace and bountiful blessing. 

Manndi Wilkins Quote

Just as you cannot “judge a book by its cover,” the heart of man is a mystery, but for the acts of kindness he shows, not to gain attention of his fellow man, but in obedience and gratitude for the Lord, who has shown spiritual bounty to him. 

Just this week, I witnessed a young boy on my own son’s flag football team, pat the back of an opposing team’s player, simply because he did a good job! Children truly own the essence of vulnerability and cutting directly through the red tape of society’s standards. 

When do we outgrow this desire to see everyone succeed? Whether they are members of our competitive team or not?

Lord, I pray, despite political affiliation, differences in medical views, the destruction in Afghanistan, pro-life vs. pro-choice, tragic natural disasters, and all other news-worthy heartbreakingly divisional headlines, that we could see beyond the outer shell of disagreement, to the inner heart of man, found deep below the surface. 

I may prefer the cool drink of ice-chilled water. You may prefer the less gum-sensitizing taste of tepid room temperature liquid. But in the end, they are both differing forms of the exact same element essential for our very human survival.  

God looks at the heart
2 Comments
Share
Manndi Wilkins

Manndi Maphies DeBoef works at the UMKC School of Pharmacy and as a freelance writer in her spare time. Her greatest passion is being a boy mom to her two rambunctious, creative, endearing sons, William, age 11 and Waylan, nearly 9. Her sons never fail to provide daily entertainment, which inspires many of her writings. She also loves to write about everything from being a single mom and dating after divorce to finding love later in life, the devastation of miscarriage, the loss of a loved one and starting over. Her pieces are lovingly filled with inspiration, encouragement and always a touch of humor. “Live a life others wish to read about.”

Leave a Comment Cancel Comment

The Comments

  • Gail
    October 3, 2021

    So lovely, dear daughter of mine.
    ❤️

    Reply
    • Manndi DeBoef
      Gail
      November 22, 2021

      Awe, Thank You my sweet Mother! My biggest cheerleader…

      Reply

You May Also Like

September 23, 2022

Our Redeemer: A Universal Blood Donor

November 1, 2021

The Sad Sunflower: What Sunflowers Can Teach Us About Community

June 21, 2022

Acts of Service to Others are the Greatest Acts of Love

Grab your coffee and stay awhile

Welcome to Salt + Sparrow, a place where we learn about Jesus, the Bible, and find big faith in small things.

Amen 🙏🏻 @hertrueworth #faithquotes #christ Amen 🙏🏻 @hertrueworth 

#faithquotes #christianmoms #truth #blessed #relationshipwithgod #prayer #christianmomma #christianlifestyle #christianity #faithblogger #christianmother #faithinmotion #faithblog #christianliving #christians #momsoffaith #biblestudy #jesusalways #faith #bibleverse #pray
Every single person you meet was created by, and l Every single person you meet was created by, and loved by God. 

Even the ones who have hurt you. 

Next time you’re tempted to act out in anger, or envy, or hurt.. stop for a moment and think.. how would Jesus behave in this situation? 

Learning to respond to others for who they are rather than what they’ve done… or the emotion their actions have triggered in you, will bring you peace and freedom. 

💛
.
.
.
.
.
#faithblogger #christianblogger #christianwomen #christianlifestyle
I was recently gifted the book, Grit Don’t Quit: I was recently gifted the book, Grit Don’t Quit: Developing Resilience and Faith When Giving Up Isn’t an Option, by Bianca Juarez Olthoff. And it couldn’t have come into my life at a better time.

I think we’ve all gone through times in our life when failure has threatened to keep us down. When getting back up after yet another fall feels seemingly impossible.

And I hate to break it to you, but we will all face failure at some point in our lives. Sometimes repeatedly. But the really amazing thing about failure is that it give us options:

We can either let failure destroy our confidence and our faith and keep us from living up to our full potential.

Or we call view failure as another chance.

Embracing failure is a concept that may be difficult to adopt at first, but when we can view failure as a learning opportunity and quickly get back up on our feet, we win. It’s also a chance to turn to God and say hey.. here’s my weakness. And it’s only through our weaknesses that we can turn to God and find His strength.

So.. are you going to change the way you view failure? Or are you going to let it hold you back?

@biancaolthoff 

I'll link a giveaway for this book in stories so go check it out there!

#gritdontquit #gritdontquitbook #bookstagram #grit #christianbooks
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

"This verse isn’t promising that bad things won’t happen. It simply reminds us nothing can touch us when we live in Christ Jesus. We might experience loss and hardship, but our ultimate destination is heavenly perfection. 

So today, if you are living consumed with fear, practice surrender.

Take a deep breath and know that no matter what, you are loved and you will be ok.

God is Big Enough to hold our biggest hurts and make them beautiful." 

@mrsheidivegh 

#christianmomma #christians #christianlifestyle #faithblogger #christianmother #faithblog #faithquotes #relationshipwithgod #faithinmotion #prayer #christianliving #christianmoms #momsoffaith #truth #christianity #blessed
Follow on Instagram

Currently Praying For

Currently Praying For

Nashville

Shop Our Favorites

Bible Study Tools

She Who Is - Christian Apparel

Christian Growth Hub

Truly Simply Healthy

Daily Grace Co.

Bible Studies

Blog

Recent Posts

  • a woman praying

    Devotional: An Answered Prayer

    September 19, 2023
  • A woman and her dog

    Standing Boldly in Truth: I’m a Dog Person

    September 14, 2023
  • training wheels for a child's bike

    Putting on Our Wisdom Training Wheels

    September 12, 2023
  1. Laura Bennet on Devotional: An Answered PrayerSeptember 21, 2023

    I love how God uses pain to draw us to him. So often I do things to alleviate the pain,…

  2. Sandy Brannan on Devotional: An Answered PrayerSeptember 20, 2023

    Amen!

  3. Jamie on When God Asks You to Surrender ControlAugust 29, 2023

    Pam, yes, His ways are always better! Thank you for the comment ❤️

  4. Pam Booher on When God Asks You to Surrender ControlAugust 22, 2023

    So good Jamie!! I need to remember this too… surrendering is so FREEING!! Thank you for the reminder that God’s…

  5. Angel Baker on Dancing with JoyAugust 19, 2023

    Love this!

Matthew 28:20 CSB

"...And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

About

Amen 🙏🏻 @hertrueworth #faithquotes #christ Amen 🙏🏻 @hertrueworth 

#faithquotes #christianmoms #truth #blessed #relationshipwithgod #prayer #christianmomma #christianlifestyle #christianity #faithblogger #christianmother #faithinmotion #faithblog #christianliving #christians #momsoffaith #biblestudy #jesusalways #faith #bibleverse #pray
Every single person you meet was created by, and l Every single person you meet was created by, and loved by God. 

Even the ones who have hurt you. 

Next time you’re tempted to act out in anger, or envy, or hurt.. stop for a moment and think.. how would Jesus behave in this situation? 

Learning to respond to others for who they are rather than what they’ve done… or the emotion their actions have triggered in you, will bring you peace and freedom. 

💛
.
.
.
.
.
#faithblogger #christianblogger #christianwomen #christianlifestyle
I was recently gifted the book, Grit Don’t Quit: I was recently gifted the book, Grit Don’t Quit: Developing Resilience and Faith When Giving Up Isn’t an Option, by Bianca Juarez Olthoff. And it couldn’t have come into my life at a better time.

I think we’ve all gone through times in our life when failure has threatened to keep us down. When getting back up after yet another fall feels seemingly impossible.

And I hate to break it to you, but we will all face failure at some point in our lives. Sometimes repeatedly. But the really amazing thing about failure is that it give us options:

We can either let failure destroy our confidence and our faith and keep us from living up to our full potential.

Or we call view failure as another chance.

Embracing failure is a concept that may be difficult to adopt at first, but when we can view failure as a learning opportunity and quickly get back up on our feet, we win. It’s also a chance to turn to God and say hey.. here’s my weakness. And it’s only through our weaknesses that we can turn to God and find His strength.

So.. are you going to change the way you view failure? Or are you going to let it hold you back?

@biancaolthoff 

I'll link a giveaway for this book in stories so go check it out there!

#gritdontquit #gritdontquitbook #bookstagram #grit #christianbooks
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

"This verse isn’t promising that bad things won’t happen. It simply reminds us nothing can touch us when we live in Christ Jesus. We might experience loss and hardship, but our ultimate destination is heavenly perfection. 

So today, if you are living consumed with fear, practice surrender.

Take a deep breath and know that no matter what, you are loved and you will be ok.

God is Big Enough to hold our biggest hurts and make them beautiful." 

@mrsheidivegh 

#christianmomma #christians #christianlifestyle #faithblogger #christianmother #faithblog #faithquotes #relationshipwithgod #faithinmotion #prayer #christianliving #christianmoms #momsoffaith #truth #christianity #blessed
God had already been speaking to me for some time God had already been speaking to me for some time about how my desire to control the details and direction of my life was getting in the way of my trust in Him and my submission to Him.

The fear of not being in control had stolen my contentment, joy, and peace. So many opportunities and relationships had been strangled or suffocated due to the struggle for control.

The Lord had been directing me to practice putting my full trust in Him.

While I used to spend much of my energy worrying and controlling, God began teaching me to put all of that effort into trusting Him instead.

Friends, as I look back over my life, I cannot think of one time that I regret surrendering to God and yielding control to Him. Was it difficult and painful? Indeed it was.

Did I take it back untold times, having to surrender again and again? You bet.

But this I’ve discovered: as we lean into our powerlessness and His sovereignty, we experience new levels of freedom and joy.

Once upon a time, I would have thought that losing control was the worst thing that could happen to me. Now I know that releasing it was what I needed most.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to yield this new area of control to you– I surrender myself and all of my brokenness. Guide me and remind me each day to put my full effort into trusting You.

@jamiedesilvia 

Full post on saltsparrow.com

 #pray #faith #prayer #bibleverse #biblestudy #bibleversedaily #faithinmotion #faithblogger #christianmomma #jesusalways #faithblog #faithquotes #christianmoms #christianmother #christianlife #christianlifestyle #momsoffaith #christianliving #relationshipwithgod #christians #faithbased #momswhoreadthebible
Follow on Instagram

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2023 Salt + Sparrow. All Rights Reserved.Site Powered by Pix & Hue.