Portrait of a yielded heart
posted Saturday, July 30, 2005 :: 4:02 AM
Now pride hides itself from view so that we cannot recognize it
when we are in its grip. If our hearts have been long hardened by
suffering, we may not even recognize what a yielded heart looks like.
Thus our need for a portrait.
The proud heart says, Let my (feelings, thoughts, perspective, experiences; pick one) be true and God be found a liar.
The yielded heart says, Let God be true through every man be found a liar.
The proud heart says, I am perfect in all my ways.
The yielded heart says, The Rock! His work is perfect, and all His ways are just.
The proud heart says, I deserve ______________.
The yielded heart says, I deserve death.
The proud heart says, I do not have ____________, thus God does not love me.
The yielded heart says, God has showered me with undeserved grace, thus God does love me.
The proud heart says, Let my will be done.
The yielded heart says, Let Thy will be done.
The proud heart says, I will order my life as I please.
The yielded heart says, You are my King, O God, and I live to serve Your pleasure.
The proud heart says, I am wise and have made my heart pure.
The yielded heart says, I need You to teach, correct, and mold me.
The proud heart says, I am better than others.
The yielded heart says, Others are better than I.
None of us escapes the discipline of the Lord, for none of us has arrived. All of us need our hearts humbled from time to time, and the Lord, who searches and tries the hearts and minds of men,
is far more able to judge the needs of our hearts and lives than we.
Thus, let us bow our hearts before our Father God, regardless of any
other thing; regardless of the circumstances in our lives.
And as praise befits the upright, let us give Him thanks
and praise His name as long as we have our being. For even if every
other thing were to be taken from us, even our lives, we have what
cannot be taken from us: We have Jesus. With Him, let us be content. Not only content, but overflowing with joy!
to be continued ...
Previously: Pride: the hidden problem with hardness
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Update: continued in The poetry of a yielded heart
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