Lord, I need you to work on my face. For those of you who have seen me you might be thinking, Ralf, no amount of guy products is going to provide the much needed improvement. Ok I get it when it comes to the looks department I didn’t inherit that gene.  

In fact, earlier this week at work our MARCOM team posted head shots of our global leadership team on one of our office walls and I asked that they find a different photo that doesn’t look like I had a suppository…uh, never mind let’s just leave it at that.

I tend to “wear my feelings on my sleeves” I don’t have a very good poker face. If my day isn’t going well or I’m dealing with an issue, burdened about something or things aren’t going as expected, I don’t hide it well. My face generally reveals what’s taking place on the inside. My facial expressions and body language including deep heavy sighs and shoulder shrugs tend to manifest and mirror my inner condition.

As a Jesus follower, a contorted countenance doesn’t reflect well on my Lord; especially to a watching world asking does a relationship with Jesus really make a difference?  I took this before the Lord in prayer and was convicted that “wearing things on my sleeves” revealed pride and selfishness in my own life. My outward actions were a way of saying “look at me” and drawing undo attention to myself. Instead, I should be turning any burden or trial that I was facing over to the Lord allowing Him to shape and mold me and develop my character in a way that brings Glory to God because of my trust and confidence in Him.

In other words, I prayed Lord, when I am facing life’s trials and challenges, please work on my face. Actually, Lord work in my heart so that my face, my countenance, reflects Christlike character so others can see that trusting You indeed makes a difference.

I heard a statement the other day when emotions take control wisdom walks out the door. That’s a great word and reminder that you can’t always control situations that come your way, but you can always control how you respond.

When emotions are the engine driving the train, the cars of logic, wisdom and clarity are derailed and fall into a ditch. Don’t react, instead respond.  Remain calm in the midst of challenges and chaos. Choose peace instead of panic, exercise faith instead of fear.

Allow the furnace of the Lord’s refining fire to remove the dross from our lives and purify our hearts developing Christlike character resulting in deeper faith, patience and endurance, leading to peace, calm and rest in the midst of a restless world.

Psalm 11:7 reads, For the Lord loves righteousness; He will not forsake His faithful ones. The righteous will be rewarded, and their “faces” will shine with joy.

Proverbs 15:13 says, a cheerful heart makes a happy face.

And in Psalm 42:11 the psalmist writes, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him. The help of my countenance and my God.”

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