“And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided Him. And He said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts” (Luke 16:14-15).

Sheila spoke quietly but emphatically to her teenage daughters. Seventeen-year-old Kirsten and fourteen-year-old Carmen had been giving their mom a difficult time the past several days. Mom knew that her teenage daughters were rebelling against her reasonable rules. Mom remembered well what it was like to be a teenager, and she purposed not to have a lengthy list of unreasonable expectations. “I found the email that you sent to one of your friends on our family laptop. You thought that you had erased it, no doubt, but it was still there. Now neither of you will admit to writing what was sent to your mutual friend. Both of you have declared your innocence. This time, girls, I am going to commit to the Lord what I’ve talked to you about. You have justified yourselves, but truly, Kirsten and Carmen, God knows your hearts. I love you, but God knows much more about you and cares more deeply about you than I ever could.” With that mom got up and walked away. Silence nearly screamed from the other room. Several hours later Carmen came and confessed that she was the one who had written the email. “When you spoke about how God knows my heart, Mom that really broke me. I’m sorry, Mom,” Carmen said as she sobbed in remorse. What a great lesson for each of us. We need to remember that God knows our hearts. Nothing is hidden from Him.

For today: God knows my heart. This is both refreshing and challenging as well. How about you?