Today's Verse: 1 Samuel 16:7

Monday, August 3, 2026

The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
— 1 Samuel 16:7

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Have you ever wondered how many potentially good friends you may have lost simply by judging them on your first impression of them? I'm amazed at how the first impression very seldom tells us much of substance about another person. We're not really going to be able to evaluate people properly until the Lord reveals at judgment what is really in their hearts. Don't you think that we should give them time to reveal what is in their hearts before we make a decision about them?! Let's don't just look on the outward appearance!

My Prayer...

Father, you alone know each heart. Please help me be more patient with others before forming an opinion about them. Please give me eyes to see them as Jesus does. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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8 Related Resources by Heartlight

Can't Judge a Book...
Illustration of 1 Samuel 16:7
Inspirational illustration of 1 Samuel 16:7 -- The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
Fake
Article by Tim Archer
Bet you've faked a photo before Photos often represent a "reality" that doesn't exist. They focus on the surface level. God looks beyond that, looking at the heart. How do we get our hearts right? God can fix them.
But Can She Sing?
Article by Rubel Shelly
What's more important, style or substance? Rubel Shelly talks about the shallowness of the Chinese to place appearance above all things and then pass it off as something else.
A Word for Misfits
Article by Max Lucado
Can God really use someone like me? Max Lucado writes about Samuel's anointing David king of Israel and reminds us that God uses all sorts of misfits.
See All 8 Related Resources about 1 Samuel 16:7

Illustration

Illustration of 1 Samuel 16:7 — The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

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About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

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