Maneuvers - No. 91
Open Your Heart
to Me
We need to feel loved.
Research has shown that the drive to feel loved and cared for isn’t just a want or a longing—it’s a deep-seated need. And it doesn’t go away. It starts as young as infancy and stays with us until old age.
But what if we’ve been hurt in the past? And we’re scared to receive love? What if we have a hard time believing others when they say they love us? Or believing that God loves us?
If you find that it leaves an aching hole in your heart, you’re not alone.
But our Jesus loves filling that hole. For him, loving us isn’t a duty or a burden. It’s a delight—one he pursues no matter the cost, even if that cost is his life.
Would you join us in exploring that love today, friend?
Yes, it’s scary to open our hearts. To lay aside the defenses we’ve built to protect ourselves from pain. To trust again when we’ve been betrayed or lied to. To allow ourselves to feel what we feel.
But if we’re willing to take that risk, we position ourselves to receive a treasure far greater than that discomfort—a closer, more authentic, more satisfying relationship with Jesus.
So come… let’s listen together.
01.
The Message
“Will you receive my kindness? Will you accept the truth that I am dearly proud of you? I can feel your resistance, your doubt that you are special to me. I know it is a difficult choice sometimes—this choice to let yourself be loved.
“I want to tell you what it is I see in you, and I want to help you to believe it. So, as a first step, relax into me, and surrender your emotions now. Then, together, let’s discern your resistance to hearing and believing me.
“One area of resistance is your struggle to feel your emotions—to attend to them, to notice what they are telling you—about you, about me, about your heart.
“Do not be afraid to feel sad or angry or frustrated or excited or amused. You are beautifully complex, and I give you this range of feelings because these are emotions I feel, too. We are so alike, you and I—because I am in you and made you. We are connected. You are the dear child I always wanted to call my own and to be with me.
“So let me sort out your emotions when they are confusing and more than you can hold. Feel them—don’t be afraid to feel—for that is how you will most connect with me. And when you experience this connection, you will become even more filled with hope, joy, and life. You know me—because I made you, you have always known me. But I want to help you know me more.
“So with your emotions as your friend, come away with me. Come close. Let me lead you to a place in your heart where you have never been. Your heart is a treasure house of beauty and confidence, the deep knowledge of your identity. It is your security, your true place with me.
“Turn toward me now. Listen carefully, not just with your mind as you hear these words, but with your heart. To truly hear me—and receive what I say to you—you must have an open heart.”
02.
Listen
Pause for a moment here and reflect on what you’re feeling after reading Holy Spirit’s message. If you had to distill your response down to one word, what would it be? Based on that word, let’s write out a response to God.
03.
Think
“O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge” (Psalm 62:8, NLT).
1. What emotions frighten you? Or what emotions do you find unpleasant and try to avoid feeling?
2. Where do you feel confused by what you feel? Where do you need God to speak wisdom and truth to your heart right now?
3. Where do you want to feel God’s love in a deeper way? What makes it hard to accept and receive that love from him?
04.
Trust
Does the intensity of the emotions you feel ever make you afraid to bring them to God? Or do you ever think you’re feeling the wrong thing, and so you don’t want to admit them to the Lord—or even to yourself?
We (Jennifer and Justin) have been there, too. But with Jesus, we don’t have to pretend. Because he already sees what’s in our hearts—and he loves us the same.
In fact, he invites each of us to “pour out your heart” to him (see Psalm 62:8, NLT). He wants us to share with him what we’re experiencing and feeling—even if it doesn’t make sense to us at the moment.
Can we practice that right now?
Let’s find a place where we can be quiet and alone (if possible). Now, as we close our eyes and take a deep breath, let’s think back on the past week or so… What emotions did we feel? What experiences stood out to us? In one word, let’s describe what we felt in that situation. And the next. And the next.
Let’s now look at our list of emotions and words. For each one, let’s tell the Lord what’s been going on in our hearts. If it doesn’t sound good or make sense, that’s okay. This isn’t the time to pray the right prayers or say the right words—it’s about being honest and open with our Jesus.
Now, let’s close our eyes again and focus on God’s presence, thinking about how he’s close, right now. It’s safe here, so let’s relax into that closeness, letting our defenses fall, along with any self-reliance, pride, or fear.
In this place of surrender, let’s now ask the Lord: “What do you think about how I’m feeling? What do you see that I might not be seeing? What do you want to say to me right now? I’m listening, Jesus…”
Did Holy Spirit put anything on your heart, friend? If so, let’s write it down. And if he didn’t, that’s okay. Sometimes hearing his voice takes time and patience. We can keep asking him throughout the week. He loves to answer us.
05.
Pray
Father, I open my heart to you. I love to hear your voice, to know what’s on your mind. Thank you for caring about what’s in my heart, too. I want to share it all with you.
Help me not to run away from my emotions, whether I’m feeling sad or angry or anxious or afraid. Instead, show me how to bring those feelings to you and trust you to guide me. Show me how to connect with you through those things I feel.
I love you, Lord. You’re my closest friend. The one I trust wholeheartedly.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Waving the banner with you,
