I was told recently and randomly that I’m a hard nut to crack.
The same week I marveled at how the pecans fall from opened wooden flowers high in the trees surrounding my house leaving nuts with yet more layers to be broken into by squirrels for nourishment.
The same week I grabbed a handful of those nuts and set them in a glass dish next to the kitchen sink where I’d be sure to see them clearly quite often and then took this picture.
The same week I happened to read this:
“What might be one false layer or bandage God is inviting you to remove today?” -Peter Scazzero, Daily Office
And then stumbled upon this prayer from the same book:
“Crack the hard shell over my heart that obscures and buries my true self in Christ. Transform me into the kind of person you desire me to be. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
The same week I realized that I had subconsciously made an unhealthy vow to myself many years ago. Perhaps I’ll gain the courage to write more on that next week.
It was one of those weeks that the Lord seemed to be whispering the same message to me over and over again.
What about you? Is there something the Lord is impressing upon your heart…about your own heart during this season? I’d love to hear your story in the comments. I promise to pray for your heart, will you pray for mine?
A special prayer for the week we think so much about hearts…
“Father, do indeed crack the hard shell over my heart that obscures my true self in Christ. Transform me. Help me to understand how I operate in the present because of how I coped in and with my past. Not all vows are made consciously and not all vows are good. You are making all things new. Crack and peel another layer of my heart. Do this again and again until I’m home with you, fully and completely healed.”
Linking up this week with these lovely blogs:
Just what I needed to read today. As a single 38 year old, waiting for God to answer the deep desires of my heart, it is hard to have patience and trust in what God has in store for me. Blessed to be your neighbor at Testimony Tuesday this week. Thank You!
Tara, my heart goes out to you! I’m so sorry that you find yourself in this season. My husband and I both went through a long season of singleness. We both remained single until I was into my 30’s and he was into his 40’s. Some of my closest friends endured the same. We actually formed a group and prayed together for years (still do actually) for God to bless us with husbands and families. I don’t know why the Lord allows some of us to endure this. I DO know for certain that the Lord sees you, endures with you, and will comfort you as you continue to turn toward Him. He did this for my friends and I and he continues to do so. And He will do it for you too no matter what season you’re in. I am praying for God to bless you tonight. Thanks for visiting!
Hi Amy,
Your words are so timely. I was reading this morning in a devotional (that’s undated and I’d skipped around reading in no particular order) the entry titled, “Heart.” It talked about softening our hearts. I’d rather keep mine protected and invulnerable which keeps me from opening it to God, too. Keeping you in my prayers this week, and hoping to read more of what God is showing you! xo
Valerie, I think this issue of being vulnerable is one that many of us deal with. It’s the heart of my own challenge I think. So…I’ll pray you too! May the Lord crack and peel off any hard layers over our hearts that keep us from being vulnerable and confident in loving Him and others well.
Thanks for turning that comment into a lesson for my heart.
It’s so wonderful to be reminded that we can be completely vulnerable and reveal our “nutty” selves to the God who loves us.
Michele, I’m so glad that he loves me…even my nutty self! 🙂
I love it when God speaks to us so specifically. He has been doing that to me this week – and He’s been very clear. Dealing with a difficulty, He gave me three steps to follow. Two were direct from His Word, the other was through a devotional in a book I don’t often pick up but decided to read that day. Now, I need to follow through on his teaching.
Blessings as you follow through on what you’re sensing that He wants you to do!
Great perspective: “Crack and peel another layer of my heart. Do this again and again until I’m home with you, fully and completely healed.”
Because, yeah, it will have to be done again and again!
Blessings to you!
Unfortunately…yes…I do think it will happen again…and again! Thanks for visiting!
He knows every hurt, every crack. every ache doesn’t he. And He wants to heal them all!
Hi Sherry, thank you for visiting me. He does know every crack…and I guess every place that we need to BE cracked! Thank God he is the God who binds up the brokenhearted! 🙂
I love when the Lord uses repetition to teach us! It does sound indeed like he was sending you the same message over and over. At least we know what’s on his mind. ha. Blessings to you as you crack the shell; may we all be as attentive to the Lord as you have been.
Hi Lisa-thanks for visiting. Yes–I love it when the Lord uses repetition too. I long for more weeks like this one that I wrote about!
OUCH! That nutcracker just squished my head!! I am glad I came by, Amy. These words remind me of the many layers we have that need to be torn away. I feel like a nut…sometimes I don’t. Thanks.
Haha Linda…you’re funny! Thanks for visiting… Blessings to you as you seek to have those layers taken away…
Oh man, I sure needed this today! Thank you.
Hi Barbie-Thanks for stopping by! Blessings to you as you allow the Lord to do His “heart work” in your life…
Oh, Amy,
You went deep and performed a little heart surgery with that prayer today. I am praying for you and with you as you pray for those who read that prayer. Isn’t it just like God to continually remind us that He is thinking of us? That He has had in mind a glory-show of His love for us all along. I love when he confirms His message over and over in our hearts.
Thank you for sharing this at the #GraceMoments Link up.
Blessings,
Dawn
Hi Dawn, thanks for visiting. Thank you for your prayers! So thankful for those times when I sense He’s actively showing me things.
Amy,
Amen…I love that book and prayer by Peter S. …Thank you for also sharing your beautiful heart 🙂
Dolly—thanks for visiting!