Scrolling across social media, I came upon this quote: "Your anxious heart is worthy." As cliche as some of these posts are, sometimes even sappy, this one made me stop and think: "He wants all of your heart." He wants your hurt heart, your abused heart, your angry heart and your tired heart. He wants your shameful heart and your hidden heart. If it is inside you and separates you from having intimacy with Christ, he wants it.
We may think these are separate parts of our heart, but the truth is we all are born with the same heart: one that is far from Christ and that rejects him. The mucky-murky heart that is covered in sin and is broken: He wants this heart. A heart that is desperately sick and no human being can heal.
Why would God want to touch my messy heart with His Holy hands? There is no way my heart can make Him unclean, but His holiness rejuvenates a new heart within me. He takes these hearts and gives us a brand new one. He will not do a heart transplant with half a heart, the old one may infect the new. This is why it is necessary to give the Lord our entire heart. He wants to give us a new heart, one that is like His. A heart that is soft and kind, steadfast and strong, faithful and trusting. A heart that rejoices at truth and is understanding. A heart full of child-like obedience and adoration of our King.
There was a time that I had part of my heart hidden from Him. I could never enter new life while holding onto the past. I was not able to truly experience His love and grace until I laid my past traumas and failings at His feet. It took me a year, and much God-given boldness, to trust that He would truly bind up my wounds and was close to my broken heart. Now with this new heart, I am not exempt from experiencing brokenness or trouble, but with a new heart connected directly to my Father, I am held up amidst all of life's waves.
As my story unravels, I learn each and every day that with this new heart, I am secure and bound to His. I know my anxious and rotten heart is worthy of His. My prayer for those who read this will find that their [insert the blank] heart is as well.
Extended Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 17: 5-10
Psalm 147
Ezekiel 36: 24-28
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