My head bobs from side to side as my hairdresser tugs and rolls with her large round brush, determined to straighten every kink in my thick course hair. As I begin my third hour of sitting in her “beauty” chair, I observe the salon’s hustle and bustle. I hear the chatter of gossip buzzing; top 40 music plays in the background, drowned out by the humming of blow dryers. Around the room, women partake in this ritual of painting, snipping, tugging and curling – all for the desired outcome of fresh and flowing hair.

We spend hours beautifying the outside, but I can’t help but wonder, “If someone examined our heart, would it be as vibrant as our freshly blown hair?”

The Lord tells us in 1 Peter, that we aren’t to be concerned simply with the outward beauty, instead our beauty should come from within. It’s the sweet aroma of a gentle and quiet spirit that God so desires.

As I glance around the room, there is anything but gentle and quiet spirits. Then, I look up and see the person staring back at me in the mirror. “How is my spirit?” I silently think to myself.

A strand of soft hair brushes across the side of my face as I wonder, “Am I as concerned with the inside as I am with the outside? If the Lord stripped back all the outer adornments, what would he find? Are the fibers of my heart fresh and vibrant or dry and brittle?”

The Lord wants to be our personal “heart-dresser”. He wants to snip off the brittle layers and straighten every kink in our course heart. (Tweet this)

He wants us to walk into his beauty parlor with our dry and brittle layers and walk out with a fresh and flowing heart. (John 7:38 NKJV)

I don’t know about you, but I can usually tell when it’s time to make an appointment with my hairdresser; my dark roots begin creeping in, putting on full display the silver strands I desperately try to keep covered up. And no matter how much gel or serum or special potion I slather on, those unruly grays stand at full attention with total disregard to the submissive hairs lying flat all around them!

But just like our unruly hair, we too can have an unruly heart.

When dark roots begin creeping in and the thick course fibers of our heart are put on full display; when our spirit is no longer fresh and vibrant but parched and dry – this is when we are in need of some serious shearing.

The Lord has snipped off layers of bitterness, impatience, worry, and fear from my brittle and fragile heart. Sometimes I’ve needed only a little trim, other times, a complete makeover was required. All I know is, daily touch-ups are necessary to maintain the fresh, flowing heart the Lord has given me.

The beautiful thing is, He doesn’t require an appointment — walk-ins are always welcome.

If you find that your heart is need of some trimming, take some time to sit still in God’s “beauty chair”. Whether it’s spending time with him in the morning before your feet hit the floor, or in your corner cubicle; whether it’s on your drive into work or running errands or in line at the grocery store — His beauty chair is wherever we are. Allow God to be your personal “heart-dresser” and make you over from the inside out.

‬‬‬‬“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭(NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Stop & Reflect: How long has it been since you’ve sat in the chair of your “heart-dresser”? Are you in need of some serious trimming? Take a moment to stop right where you are and ask the Lord to trim off those dry brittle layers and give you a fresh and flowing heart.

God bless,

Anita Marie