Meant To Be
During my years at the Institute for Spiritual Formation in Los Angeles, my thoughts were drawn to what God's love really is versus how much human love falls short. It helped me to know God deeper. What is so interesting to me is that so many of us, myself included, day in and day out look to human relationship to give us what we think we need. "Need"...now there's a key word that should grab our attention. Each day we get up to live a new day of our life. How much of that day is actually spent in real relationship or actual acknowledgment that God is even a part of that day or even within us? How much of that day do we know who we are? What we're grounded in? That He is totally present? How much do we actually live out of His real love? How much do we actually rest in the peace, freedom, security, and beauty that it offers us? I feel like so often we live independent of Him. I'm starting to see that this happens partly because there is so much in our world that quickly takes us from Him. I've found that when I'm living out of the Truth that God's voice is constantly, every single minute, communicating to me throughout my days--it is a lot easier and lighter to live amongst people who can give us some of what we desire...but not all.
A person's journey of spiritual formation has much to do with our needs. Our lives and the truth of our internal world and how we interact with others reveal how we've learned to cope with "surviving" in a world of imperfect love. It has taught us patterns. It has given us false hope. It has left us fearful. It has made us believe that we are alone. We live in fear of rejection. It will continually leave you empty. It hurts others. We live in the lie that nothing can give us what we need to truly feel alive and loved...because unless we receive it from the true Source...we will never experience it from another. And in so many ways it allows us to feed a cycle that simply just needs to be broken. I am convinced that the only way that cycle can end is to start spending honest time with God, becoming very aware of who you are and how your heart operates.
Much of how your heart has been formed to give and receive from others is also how you've been formed to relate with God. I know that might sound crazy to you. But, man it is RIGHT ON. That is why we need to be TRANSformed. Something needs to be done with how the Fall impacted our lives and beliefs about relationships with others and our God. The good news is that HE is doing it...whether we cooperate or not. The secret: if you give yourself to it...and enter it...things start to happen that you never even knew were possible. This is the mystery and wonder and beauty of our God.
Fourteen years ago when I started studying "the heart" of people I sat in many lectures about all of this. What a time of struggle, pain, confrontation, and realization. It revealed my longings. It revealed the world's shortcomings. It revealed patterns in my family (we all have them!). It revealed what other relationships were lacking. It started a process of journeying into who I am. And somehow...that place of who I am intersected with who God is. As much was being opened inside of me concerning the "parenting of my heart" and "being loved" for who I am...the following words (probably the most meaningful He's ever spoken to me through poetry) were written from my heart. I pray that they will allow you to sit in the reality of who you are as a child of God...and start the journey towards Him in honest places of your own heart. He is with us. We are precious to Him. He can do what no one or no thing can do. His love transcends and transforms. This is our journey. Let Him show you the way it was meant to be.
"My Daughter's Heart"
By: Charity M. Bolden
A heart is to be treasured
Touched,
Protected,
Shared.
A heart is to be opened
Encouraged,
Accepted,
Seen.
A heart is to be nurtured
Heard,
Held,
Embraced.
A heart is to be given
Surrendered,
Humbly
Connected.
A heart is meant to be free
Cleansed,
Healed,
Fully Alive.
A heart is meant to be known
Explored,
Safe,
Received.
A heart is meant to be loved
Pursued,
Desired,
Cherished.
Her heart is my gift
To you
Her heart is the fruit
Of my vine
Her heart is the reflection
Of my character
Her heart is like silver
Purified through her faith
Her heart knows the journey
You're on
Her heart is the path
To me
Her heart is innocent yet wild
A rare beauty
This daughter,
Saved
Guarded
Spared
Waiting...
Fragile,
Worn,
Real,
Broken...
She will reveal
Her
Self,
Unique
Passionate
She will draw you
Deep
Inside
She will serve you
Gently
In her simple humility
She will love
Like you've never known
Through all--
As I have
This gift,
This woman,
My creation,
My blessing,
I give--
My Daughter's heart is Mine.
My Daughter's heart awaits...
Reflection:
Assess your heart and name some of your needs that have not been met by humans.
How could God meet them?
What have you looked to to meet them outside of God?
What would you name as your deepest desire?
What is your relationship like with your father in your family of origin? Feel free to write as much as you’d like.
How does this compare with the character of God?
Write about how your father shows you love.
How does this align/not align with God?
Are you able to see how sometimes our earthly relationships form us and perhaps keep us from the truths of God? We have to work hard to claim them sometimes because of this.
Journeying Together,
C