Day 16 - Tender, Bruised & Broken Hearts

31 Days

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Abundant Life

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Day 16 - Tender hearts

 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 
¹³  but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Matthew 24:12-13 

Sometimes I sit down to type and I'm speechless, this is partially one of those times.  By that I mean I know the Lord wants me today to warn you of the dangers of a cold heart, but I'm not sure where or how to begin.  I guess I'm just going to ramble on with my thoughts and pray that somehow it all comes together.  I guess that's what blogging is anyways, isn't it?  Just a rapid progression of thought.  O.k. so here goes...

If we are going to experience the abundant life in Christ then that means we need to daily choose to have hearts that are tender, bruised, and sometimes broken.  It means that we will take the risk of loving even though we may never be loved or appreciated in return!   When we choose to have tender hearts we will bear with others, pursue peace, and forgive those who have deeply hurt us.   Forgiving doesn't mean you have to put yourself in a position to be abused again.  You can and should set up boundaries as need be.  However it does mean that you let go of the resentment and release them to God so He can deal with them. 

If our hearts are tender and we see that someone is in need we will seek to see if there is something we can do to help and then do it.  That might mean taking a meal to someone, providing clothing, money, or helping with a project.   

Keeping our hearts tender means that our hearts are sensitive to the brokenhearted around us (both in our communities and our churches) and when we see someone is hurting we take time out of our busy schedule to sit, listen, pray, and cry with them.  It means that when we go home we don't just go about our busyness forgetting them, but we earnestly pray for them.   It also means that we don't assume that just because someone loves Jesus they are o.k.!  Everyone has a story, everyone has hard days, and weak moments where they either need to be reminded of God's truths or just have someone sit and cry with them.  

What about towards the church?  Are our hearts tender and aware of the needs of the church?  Are we listening to the nudge of the Holy Spirit to serve in some capacity?  Or are we too busy to even hear Him?  If we do hear Him, are we desperately arguing with Him that we're just not good enough?  Dear One, if the Holy Spirit has laid a burden on your heart it's probably because He wants you to do it.  If He calls you to it, then He will equip you for it!

We not only should be keeping our hearts tender towards others,  and towards the church, but most importantly towards God.  That means that we let go of all bitterness, confess our sins, and trust that we are forgiven in Christ.  It means we reflect on what Christ has done for us despite the fact that we are just dust and don't deserve an ounce of grace from Him.   It also means that we spend time in His Word, craving it like the choicest food, and beholding it as the greatest love letter ever written to us!  It means that we don't see Him as some strict dictator, but as a loving father who knows what's best for us.  It means that we study the life of Jesus as found in the 4 gospels (Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John) paying special attention to how He spoke to the religious leaders versus the sinners.  A woman with a tender heart will after having immersed herself in the gospels live her life in a similar way as Christ's.  Why?  Because her heart will beat as one with Christ's!  She will love as He loved, she will be angry at the things that make Him angry, and she will sit with sinners causing them to hunger and crave for the unfathomable love and grace of Christ.  

Dear One, I want you to know that I preach to myself as well!  I too am a work in progress...but more and more I want to be like Christ and love like Christ.  What about you?  Or has your heart grown cold?  Do you feel blah towards the gospel message of Christ?   Are you really too busy with the cares and demands of this world to reach out to the poor, the needy, the brokenhearted?  Please, take some time today before the Lord and ask Him to examine your heart, to forgive you of your coldness towards Him and the gospel,  and to restore your passion and love for Him.  Ask Him to cause you to love the things He loves and hate the things He hates.  Then ask Him what the good works are that He has prepared in advance for you to do(Eph 2:10), right where He has planted you (in your neighborhood, workplace, family, church etc...)?  Ask Him specifically what He wants you to be doing differently and then step out in faith and do it!  

Praying Dear Sisters, that our hearts would break for what breaks Jesus' heart!  Lord, have mercy on us in these difficult times!