[Editor’s Note: This is Alice Carter’s first devotional as the new Devotional Diva social media intern!]

When I was a child I was a Brownie, and I loved being in the Brownies. We would meet in a church hall each week, sing some bizarre songs, maybe do a craft or two and play a couple of games.

While we were there we had to wear a uniform. It was actually pretty ugly, involving brown culottes, a yellow top a nick tie and a sash, on which you would get your mum to sew on badges.

When you start you only have a couple of badges, just one with the name of the brownie group you are part of, and another one to show which “six” you are a part of; whether you are a pixie or an imp or a gnome. As you spent more time at brownies you were able to earn more and more badges to put on the sash.

I remember there was one girl in my brownie pack whose sash was absolutely covered in badges. She had badges all over the front and even some on the back.

I was desperate to have as many badges as she had. I can remember going home and looking through the “brownie badge book” which described all the badges you could earn. I wanted all of them! If only I had as many badges as that other girl I would be Super Brownie.

I wonder if sometimes we treat being a Christian a bit like being a brownie. We think if we do certain things we will be able to earn the title of “Super Christian.”

Things like reading through the whole Bible, going abroad on a mission trip or leading worship from the front of church. We think if we do these things God and the rest of the church will finally notice us. Maybe there is someone in our church that you aspire to be like. Maybe you think that if you do the things that she does you will finally get the recognition that you deserve.

It doesn’t work like that. There are no levels in Christianity. You are either a Christian or you’re not.

There’s no such thing as a Super Christian. Stop trying to be one. God loves you just as you are. You do not need to try so hard. You do not need to be something that you’re not for God to take notice of him.

All you need to do is love him and serve him.

You see, God doesn’t look at what’s going on the outside; he looks inside, at our hearts. If you are only doing things to gain attention or recognition, God knows, and he doesn’t like it.

Remember David, God choose to use him when he was just a young shepherd boy. God could have chosen any one of his older, more qualified brothers. But God chose David, because he looked at what was inside; at his heart.

What God wants is a humble heart. A heart that is willing to serve him, even without recognition.

At the end of the day he doesn’t care how many people you have spoken in front of, whether you have a theological degree; or even how many people you have converted this week. What he cares about is the heart.

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”” (1 Samuel 16:7)

Alice Carter is Devotional Diva’s social media intern. After completing a degree in applied theology at moorlands theological college and then working at a church as a children’s and family worker, Alice married the man of her dreams. They are currently living in the East End of London. Alice loves to crochet, read, bake and blog at www.cherrydropprincess.com — she would love for you to check it out!