Forty Days Full - An Invitation To Real Life

forgives us, we are truly free from the guilt of sin, but there are pathways that have been established in our soul. Iniquity explained is like deep ruts in an old road, it's very hard to pull out of the deeply engrained way of living. Jesus came to do more than forgive sins. He also came to uproot a way of life that destroys connection. Jesus showed the way to live without self-protection. Nobody had ever seen this done. I believe it is why almost everyone was drawn to him. They'd never seen anyone so open and vulnerable. They'd never experienced such untainted love. They'd never heard anyone speak with such authority and authenticity. Their religious leaders were the opposite of that. They were the most guarded, self-absorbed and judgmental people. Getting close to them was like snuggling with a porcupine. Through Christ and following His example we can be restored. He is our shield and our refuge. We must put our trust in Him to protect us. From this trust in Him we can live with an open heart, confident that He can heal every wound.

The next few chapters will continue on this theme. We will identify and hopefully root out specific ways we self-protect.

Activation

Ask Holy Spirit to reveal the ways you have protected yourself from getting hurt in relationships. As your actions are highlighted, renounce those ways and declare your need for the Lord’s protection.