Open Your Heart
Bethany, my two-year-old niece, climbs up into my lap and grasps my locket. She tries repeatedly to open it and then looks at me and says, “Open your heart.” I gladly do it for her; and then, as she moves on to her toys, I close it up again. But she returns and again asks me, “Open your heart.”
After driving home from my last visit to my sister’s house, I thought about Bethany’s request. I began to wonder how often God stands before me and asks me, “Open your heart.” Of course, He already knows what it contains, but He wants me to see what is inside of it. Is it full of love for Him, or is it full of the things of this world?
So often we do not want people to see inside our hearts. We know what is buried there. Some of us have unspoken hopes and dreams buried in our hearts. Most have hurts and heartaches. Still others harbour sin. But David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, writes:
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
David opens his heart to God and asks God to search him. How many of us would open up our heart of hearts to the Lord and be willing for Him to search out its every part…for Him to know all of those hopes, hurts, and, yes, sins. God knows what is in our hearts, and He wants to help us deal with each thing. But He is a gentleman and will not force His way into our hearts and lives. He wants to be invited. He asks, “Open your heart.” He will help you fulfill your godly desires (Psalm 37:4); He will heal the hurts (Psalm 147:3), and He will forgive your sins
(Psalm 51:10).
Then as God does His work in our hearts, we can say with the psalmist,
Psalm 57:7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
Just as Bethany wants me to open my locket heart for her. God wants me to have an open heart to Him…..a heart that is fully yielded, heart that is pleasing in His sight, and a heart that overflows with praise to my God.
A Simple Serving
Susanna Homan
www.asimpleserving.wordpress.com