What are you covering up?

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (New International Version, 2 Corinthians 4:18).⁣
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Coloring my hair since I was about 18 years old left me with no idea how much or how little gray was underneath all that color. Several months ago I decided to allow my natural color to grow out, exposing lots of gray highlights. Actually, I have to admit I love it and the freedom from the constant upkeep.

This causes me to ask myself why? Why was I more concerned about what could be seen on the outside than I was about what was on the inside? ⁣
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God revealed to me that I am guilty of covering the gray areas of my heart as well. John 14:1 tells us that we are to trust in God and not let our hearts be troubled. Telling others I trust in God yet in my heart I am experiencing fear and anxiety, that is a gray area.

My Heavenly Father could see and knew the true color of my hair, regardless of how much I tried to cover it. He also sees and knows what is in our hearts. Covering up our emotions, never admitting to ourselves we have them, then we will not seek God to help us overcome those fears. Emotions are natural to have. It’s when we deny them, or cover them up, that we allow our hearts to become vulnerable.
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“Our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (New International Version, 1Peter 5:8).⁣
What do you think of when you think of a lion looking for his prey? They will always search until the  weaker victim is found, making it easier to attack and devour it. Allowing our hearts to be filled with anxiety, and fear, causes us become the weaker victim, making us an easy target for Satan to enter in and destroy us with his lies. ⁣
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“…….do not give the devil a foothold.” (New International Version, Ephesians 4:27).⁣
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How is this possible? ⁣
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“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (New International Version, James 4:7)⁣
Submitting ourselves, opening our hearts to God and telling Him our fears and anxieties. Oh yes He already knows what they are but He wants us to seek Him in prayer, studying His word and applying it to our hearts and lives.

Satan can never win the battle when we depend upon the Lord for our strength. So the next time you feel those fears and anxiety creeping into your heart, don’t try to cover them up. Remember God has this. Our Lord is always there for us, waiting for us to call out to Him. When you just speak the name “Jesus”, you are resisting Satan and he will flee from you and seek a weaker prey. ⁣
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“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one” (New International Version, 2 Thessalonians 3:3).⁣
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