Beauty for Ashes

I delight myself in the richest of fare

trading all that I have, for all that is better

a garment of praise, for my heaviness

take this heart of stone

and make it yours

- "Beauty for Ashes" by Shane and Shane

A few days ago, I wrote a blog about healing and Jesus as the healer. At the time, I was resting in that truth and finding great peace in that promise. But, just a few hours later, the enemy had already crept in to "steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10) all of the good things that Jesus had been giving me. And I let him do it. My spirit is willing to trust and obey, but my flesh is so weak against the temptations of this world (Matthew 26:41). And don't think that the enemy doesn't know that. He knows that our weakness will lead us away from truth and in to lands that are not of God. For me, I find that my heart is growing hard against the Lord (and the work that He is doing in my heart) because it is uncomfortable and unasked for. I want to encourage all of you away from this practice. This is not a right response. I am speaking these words of truth for myself as well. So that I can continue to fight against my flesh in search of the spirit.

Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
   but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble. - Proverbs 28:14

A hard heart is in no way a good thing. It keeps us from fully understanding the will of God and receiving His spirit of peace. When we close out the spirit of God, and trust our own devices, it makes God angry (Zechariah 7:12) and it keeps us from the healing that is ours to have and that the Lord longs to give.

For this people’s heart has become calloused;
   they hardly hear with their ears,
   and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
   hear with their ears,
   understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them. - Acts 28:27

Certainly it is hard to let the Lord in and break down those walls if we fight it every step of the way. However, if we would just surrender to the will of God then He would have the freedom and reign to truly move and act, for the good of those who love Him. He moves for My good and for HIS good purposes. If you look at that equation, God is doing all the work and I am receiving His best. It doesn't get much easier than that. So why do I fight it? Why do I insist on fighting tooth and nail for my way, a way that is obviously less than the best? It seems silly to exhaust myself on hardening my heart.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation
   and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. - Psalm 51:12

God knows my heart here, and if you are wrestling through things then He knows yours too. He understands that our flesh is weak. But He also knows that are spirits are willing. And when our spirits are willing then amazing things can be done. His strength can overcome our weakness. More than that, He can even use or weakness for His purposes. The Bible says, in Ecclesiastes 3, that there is a time and season for everything under the sun.

   a time to tear down and a time to build,
 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
   a time to mourn and a time to dance,
 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
   a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
 a time to search and a time to give up,
   a time to keep and a time to throw away,
 a time to tear and a time to mend... (vs. 3-7)

Feel your despair and your loss. It is there for a reason. It is meant to teach you something. And chances are you are meant to learn IN it just as much as you are THROUGH it. So do not deny yourself the blessings of being exactly where God wants you. But, also, move on when it's time to move on. Do not sit in that place of despair until your flesh weakens and your heart hardens. Let God move you from that place in to acres of hope (Hosea 2:14-16).

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
   to proclaim freedom for the captives
   and release from darkness for the prisoners...
  and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
   instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
   instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
   instead of a spirit of despair. - Isaiah 61:1-3 

This is my plea, dear friends, for you and for myself.  That we would accept whatever comes. Be it sorrow or joy and allow ourselves to find what God wants for us in that. My prayer for you is that you would be mindful of the condition of you heart and that you would watch carefully and not grow weary. Hard times will come. That is a certainty. But so will good times. The same God allows for both. And He has a reason for us being there. Let your hearts be moldable to God's will. Choose to turn the hardened heart in to a willing spirit.