But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
1 Samuel 16:7

As I was studying the life of David this week, I came across a familiar verse that always causes me to stop and pray. I want to live my life above all else to please God. God referred to David as a man after His own heart. ( Acts 13:22, 1 Samuel 13:14)
It renews my deep desire to keep my heart inside of His. We must surrender our hearts to love the things He loves, and hate the things He hates.

I want to remind you once again to look up scripture references and read them for yourselves if you want God to speak to you personally. Sure He is speaking through my devotion, hopefully what I have heard, but He desires to have your heart to speak to you as an individual. There is to be no mediator between you and Christ. (1 Timothy 2:5)
Seek the truth for yourself. Make sure you are hearing correctly by sifting everything through His Word.

I spend a lot of time helping people take care of their physical bodies, and I spend a lot of time caring for my own in order to live out what I teach, and to hold up a standard for my clients. My business derived its name from scripture. If you take the time to read Psalm 139 you will find how intimately God is acquainted with you, and how much you are loved by the Father who created you. In Psalm 139:13-14 David declares:

"For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works and my souls knows it very well."

I know this to be true. After carrying, birthing, and nursing four children I have never lost the wonder of a woman’s body. Having been an endurance athlete for many years I have found this to be true athletically as well. We limit our bodies in our minds. It is most often capable of so much more than we are willing to live out. I believe the human body is the masterpiece of all God’s creation. In Ephesian 2:10 we read:

"For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

We are also told in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20:

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God with your bodies."

1 Corinthians 3: 16-17 tells us:

"Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are."

I believe the Scriptures clearly teaches us to care for our bodies unto the Lord. The most important aspect of caring for our bodies as Christians is what is our motives behind our efforts. Is it to glorify Him or ourselves? If we will meditate on His Word we will keep our motives pure. It is the only thing that has the power to keep my heart pure, and I know that. I hope you do too; if not you can. David tells us in Psalm 119:11:

" I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

This is one of my key verses I cling to in everyday living.

We must resolve in our own hearts as we begin each day to live for the approval of God more than the approval of man. Having the knowledge from His Word He looks inside us as no one else can. For this reason, He is the "righteous judge." God help all of us to sobered by this truth knowing we will be rewarded for only what was performed for the glory of God, and not for that of ourselves. We know no man can glory or boast in His Presence. Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

I am defined as a holistic teacher which means I address the whole person – body, soul, and spirit. We must remember that the body is temporal but the spirit is eternal. As much as I love to be fit and to see others fit I summarize with 1 Timothy 4:7-9:

"…discipline yourselves for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for this present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance."

May we all join Paul in his declaration, and declare it in our own lives. May we be aware as never before God chooses leaders not looking on his or her stature or height, or appearance, but He looks inside the heart of each one of us. Therefore, may we above all else, guard our hearts.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows out of it."
(Proverbs 4:23)

In His love.

Teresa Roberts

Masterpiece Fitness

www.masterpiecefitness.com

276-237-6680

My heart was full of joy getting to spend the day with my middle son, Caleb, and my grandson, Levi, biking the New River Trail, and swimming in Chestnut Creek Falls!