Open-hearted people welcome unguarded human connection. They spread warmth and kindness wherever they go. They look beyond other people’s words, behaviors, and appearance seeking to see the image of God in them. This hard-hearted world needs open-hearted people.
The joy and peace that open-hearted people radiate resonates in others and facilitates amazing interactions. Every person has the ability to be open-hearted, yet society has trained us to be cautious, suspicious, guarded, and closed. Instead of wearing love like a locket, we lock down our heart to protect it. That’s not what our heart was designed for.
People were created for caring community, not for cold, formalized interactions that keep us in heart-isolation. Too often we choose loneliness instead of openness. We let fear and insecurity compel us to hide what’s inside of us. We refuse to consistently walk in the light (1 John 1:7) of humility and honesty.
God calls us to open-heartedness. The Bible says: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” (James 5:16) That’s simple and powerfully effective, yet scary to do. How can we be open-hearted when we’ve been taught and trained to do the opposite.
The first Christians demonstrated an incredible ability to keep their heart open even under extreme duress and persecution. They loved their enemies by blessing those who cursed them. (Matthew 5:44) Instead of responding with anger or revenge when they were insulted, persecuted, and falsely accused they radiated the fruit of God the Holy Spirit–love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) How did they do that?
They surrendered to Heaven’s appeal. They denied their own thoughts, feelings, and desires (Mark 8:34) and allowed Christ to freely live within and through themselves. (Colossians 1:27) They frequently met together to open up to each other. (1 Corinthians 14:26) They encouraged each other, (Hebrews 10:24-25) confessed their faults to each other, (James 5:16) taught one another, (Colossians 3:16) and carried each other’s burdens. (Galatians 6:2)
What about you? Is your heart mostly open or mostly closed? Start small. Find one or two people who you trust. Get together with them regularly and begin to open up and share what’s going on inside of you. Practice the Bible “one anothers” together. Soon you will notice divine connection growing among you as you gradually learn to walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16)
Here’s Heaven’s appeal:
Asleep at the wheel,
You don’t know what’s real.
Things aren’t like they feel.
Now wake up and heal.
Let Christ take the wheel
So He can reveal
HIs presence to you.
Free Gas for Your Think Tank -- Short Reflections, Lasting Encouragement 