Maneuvers - No. 58
A Heart
Broken Open
Have you ever played guitar or violin, friend?
At first, it hurts to press down constantly on those tight metal strings. Just 15 minutes of playing can leave your fingers feeling raw. After 45 minutes? You might even bleed…
After a while, though, you develop calluses on your fingertips. And eventually, you can play for hours on end without pain–thanks to that hardened skin.
Calluses are our bodies’ way of protecting us from constant friction or pain.
But what happens when our hearts develop calluses?
What happens when we emotionally numb ourselves because we’re tired of facing discouragement and disappointment day after day?
We may not feel as much pain–granted–but we also have a harder time hearing Holy Spirit’s voice, enjoying his closeness, feeling his love.
In protecting ourselves from the pain of this world, do we unwittingly block ourselves from enjoying the good, too?
Calluses are fine for fingertips–but our hearts weren’t created for them.
What if, instead, we were created to feel those emotions, even the painful ones? Could it be that Jesus allows us to feel that pain because he wants to carry it for us, help us process our emotions, and be our anchor in the storm?
Today, Holy Spirit is inviting us to see a bigger picture–a life without calluses. A heart broken open to enjoy all his goodness. Let’s listen…
01.
The Message
“Do not think this day is monotonous. Do not think this day is ordinary. Each day is miraculous, isn’t it? Aren’t I the one who holds everything together? Making light shine upon the leaves of every tree. Bringing breath to your lungs. Letting you make decisions about who you think you are, how you feel, what you deem important to do and not do? Aren’t I steady and sure? Aren’t I calmness in storms? Aren’t I peace when nothing about you can be controlled?
“I am beauty. I am everything good. I am all colors. I am all sound. I am laughter and hope. I am more than your emotions can describe, more than your mind can know. I am above you and behind you. I am below you and around you. I am in every living thing. I am creator and preserver, redeemer and rescuer. I am the one holding all things together. And I can break everything apart.
“Will you let me break you open now? Break you open to see this day as glorious? To see me holding your heart? What are you holding onto–ideas about me, beliefs about this day–that prevent you from experiencing the miracle that this day is?
“Are you cynical? Critical? Skeptical? Do you doubt my speaking to you now?
“Is your heart open to me? Wide open? You know I love you, don’t you? You know I have so much love to give you? I am all in. I am not conservative in my love for you. I am not hesitant to bless you.
“Enter the realm of my sanctuary. Enter the deeper place of my heart. Let me engage you, break you open to a new way of experiencing this day, this moment, your life. I break you open to receive me in ways you have never dreamed before. Come, I want you to know me. Come, I want to bless you with my love. Come, I want you to experience the miracle of life singing out now, all around you, all around.”
02.
Listen
Let’s pause here and reflect on what we just read…
How would you like to respond to the Lord’s love right now? Let’s pull out our journals and write out a prayer to him.
03.
Think
“Now we can come fearlessly right into God’s presence, assured of his glad welcome when we come with Christ and trust in him” (Ephesians 3:12, TLB).
1. Where has your heart been hard lately? How has it been difficult to receive God’s love in those areas?
2. In what situations do you find it most difficult to let go of control or to let Jesus in? Why is it hard to trust him with those areas?
3. What would it look like for your heart to be fully open to Jesus? To fully receive his love and blessings? What needs to happen for your heart to reach that place of total openness?
04.
Trust
Let’s return to this week’s message:
“Will you let me break you open now? Break you open to see this day as glorious? To see me holding your heart? What are you holding onto–ideas about me, beliefs about this day–that prevent you from experiencing the miracle that this day is?”
Holy Spirit’s words remind us of what Hosea prophesied:
“Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you” (Hosea 10:12, NIV, emphasis added).
What is unplowed ground like? Often, it’s…
• Hardened
• Dry
• Full of rocks
• Overgrown with weeds and thorns
Let’s close our eyes and imagine a plot of unplowed land. The vast field has so much potential. But nothing can grow in it until the farmer plows the ground.
Now imagine that same field fully plowed. Ready to receive the seed the farmer sows–along with water and sunlight and fertilizer. Do we see the difference? Feel it?
That is what Holy Spirit wants to do in our hearts. It may hurt sometimes. It may mean he has to pull harmful things out of our lives. But it’s always worth it–because he brings new growth, new healing, new horizons that we could never imagine on our own.
Now, with our eyes still closed, let’s imagine our hearts as that plowed field and Jesus as the farmer planting seed. What seeds is he sowing? Love? Joy? Peace? What dreams does he have for that field–for our hearts?
Let’s write down what Holy Spirit shows us.
And now, let’s respond to the Lord in prayer.
05.
Pray
Father, when I’m overwhelmed and discouraged, you come and comfort me. You speak truth and life to my heart. Forgive me where I’ve allowed discouragements to harden my heart, where I’ve allowed myself to become calloused to you.
You are my hope. You are my joy. With you, I have access to all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus! Thank you.
I open myself to you. Soften my heart and teach me to trust you completely.
I love you, Lord.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Waving the banner with you,
