The Battle for the Heart
The heart is central to our relationship with God. Yet, many of us have built fortresses around our hearts in an attempt to protect ourselves from pain, rejection, and disappointments we’ve experienced in life. These defense mechanisms can shut down our hearts, and block love, intimacy, and connection— with others and with God.
The Bible refers to this condition of heart as being “hard hearted” or having a “heart of stone.” We hide behind walls of self protection that we think will protect us, but actually serve as a block to the love and connection we need. It can all seem rather hopeless if you find yourself in this situation, but the good news is Jesus is in the business of giving away new hearts! Listen to God’s promise in Ezekiel 36:26-27:
“I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees.”
Through Jesus, this promise is fulfilled. He offers us new hearts that are open, vulnerable, and fully connected to Him. And even better yet, He gives us His Spirit to live in us and compel us to follow His ways. You are never alone!
Breaking Down the Barriers
When we are hurt, we are tempted to turn to self-protection mechanisms like judgments, inner vows, and bitterness. Often rooted in childhood experiences, these patterns can manifest as unforgiveness, isolation, or a fear of intimacy. Over time, they become spiritual strongholds that hinder our relationships and affect our ability to trust God.
Finding Freedom
The good news is that Jesus is an expert at dealing with our hearts! Ultimately, its an encounter with the Father’s love that transforms a heart of stone. Practical steps like forgiving those who’ve hurt us, repenting for our sinful responses to those pains, and renouncing inner vows and judgements we’ve made aligns us with God’s grace and gives the Holy Spirit permission to work.
Walking in Wholeness
Healing is a journey that unfolds over time. Because hearts of stone are primarily about self-protection and isolation, you will likely need to walk out you healing in community. Find a few friends who can pray with you along the way. It takes time to rebuild trust, but Jesus is committed to the journey even more than you are!
