I love this quote, this card. It was given to me by a dear young friend who graciously said this “had my name on it”.
She sees me this way. An honest person.
This season of Lent I am being confronted by my lack of honesty.
I face the easier things to confess and change and turn a blind eye to the deeper issues of my heart.
This early morning I saw a plea for me to get honest. All the Way.
See if you can see it too:
“Yet even now, ” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments.”
I rend my garments when I make external changes that I see need to be made: changing my habits ‘to be healthier’, reading more, writing more, making time to be with people.
I do these things.
I.
Yet…
“even now, Return to Me with ALL YOUR HEART.”
With actions that demonstrate to Him my sincerity, my willingness to be humble and accept that I believe the lie that I am in charge of my life.
It’s not important what others think about me. It’s important what God thinks about me.
“rend your heart and not your garments.”
Inward change is not my work. My work is calling it like it is.
“Now return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil.”
This is what I receive in return for admitting what is and agreeing with God about it all. Not a bad exchange, eh?
Return to Me.
He’s calling you too…
Facing our lack of control and admitting the things we have done, but are not proud of is difficult, The Lord knows our heart and gives us grace for our mistakes. As you mentioned, through our actions He sees our sincerity. Inward change is not possible to do on our own, but with His help all things are possible. Facing the ugliness of our past behavior can be done without fear when we have confessed are weakness to The Lord.