Reflect Your Inner Beauty

It is spring time at Tobico Marsh and this picture was taken in March of 2022. My husband and I went for a walk to see what birds we could see returning for the spring. The melting ice allowed the mute swans and some geese to walk on the ice and then swim in the open water. It was stunning in person to see. The sunlight allowed the water to paint a beautiful sky reflection as the swans were enjoying the early evening. This photo made me think of Proverbs 27:19 which speaks of water reflecting the image of a person, and then describes the heart being another form of reflection of that person. One translation describes it as "it is your own face that you see reflected in the water and it is your own self that you see in your heart".

The hebrew word for heart is lev in modern hebrew, לב, or leb in biblical hebrew. The ancient hebrew symbols for the L/ל is a shepherd staff representing authority, and the B/V/ב is a picture of a tent/home. When used together the LV,לב combination describes "the authority inside". It paints a picture of the consciousness of man coming from deep inside the chest, the heart.

Scientists are discovering how the heart, brain, and gut/or the digestive tract all communicate together. The human heart really is the driver of the human emotion. It is why your heart rate and blood pressure respond to emotions with a change of heart rhythm and blood pressure. There is no denying that the heart is more than a physical pump. My question is how good are we at recognizing the "reflection" of our inner heart?

In ancient times, meditation was treasured for communing with our Heavenly Father. Isaac, son of Abraham, was the first person in scripture that was described as a meditator in Genesis 24:63, which uses the hebrew word siyach, שיח. This word in the strong's concordance has to do with a primitive root to ponder, converse with oneself, commune, declare, meditate, pray and speak. To me, it is a communication between us and the Father, just as Yeshua taught us. Meditation on the Word brings peace to the heart and soul.

The human heart can show a positive or negative reflection. Harmonious heart rhythms produce positive emotions, and are considered to be indicators of cardiovascular efficiency and nervous system balance. The heart feels good, sends a message to the brain and can reflect warm feelings in the area of the heart. On the other hand, when negative emotions are expressed for a long time such as anger, depression, or anxiety, there is a higher chance for cardiovascular disease if prolonged. We truly are mind, body, and spirit right down to the cellular level. Our "reflection" can not be hidden. May we keep our hearts and our reflection at the forefront of our minds. May we chose forgiveness, love, gratitude, compassion, and acceptance over fear, hardness of heart, and judgement. May our prayers be centered on judging of our own heart/reflection over trying to assume a judgement role over others. Only the owner of the heart is responsible for their reflection. When we look into the mirror of our own "heart waters", we can work at changing the reflection that we portray.

Adonai, You are in our hearts and teach us to meditate and reflect Your character. May the words of our mouth and the inner reflection of our hearts, lev/leb/לב be pleasing in your sight. May we set boundaries with the negativity of the world, that we may be controlled by Your Spirit! May we focus on the small still voice in the silence and truly see our reflections. May Your Spirit/Ruach/רוח help our "authority inside" (heart) to be led by Your authority, staff, that leads and guides. We are Your sheep and want to hear Your voice in our meditation time. May our sight be focused on Yeshua, Your perfect reflection and image that came to show us the way.

May we forgive ourselves and others when we fail to portray that image. May we remember that each breath allows us a chance to move toward a better emotional reflection.

Cynthia/סינתיה