Vulnerable and Exposed

I saw a beach scene and walked along where the ocean and the beach met. Along this trail walls of sandbags blocked the ocean. As I walked, I saw that some sandbag piles were very high and that no water from the ocean came over and got onto the beach, and then I saw some places were very short and that the sand could receive the ocean. These sandbags were very unusual looking. Their shape made it seem as if the bottom parts suctioned to the sand, so I realized the sandbags were sticky and hard to remove.

This had me worried because I understood it wasn’t the natural order of things for these sandbags to be there and for the beach to be dry from lack of receiving the ocean. I then asked for clarification on what the sandbags were.

“The sandbags are blocking the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life. You can feel a trickle of My presence, grace and favor of a relationship with Me, but not the full force. This disturbs you because you know there’s more.”

This described the ache from looking at these sandbags, but I was scared to hear what the next step was because I understood it would take a lot of work. But waiting wouldn’t make it easier, so I asked the Lord, “What are my personal sandbags?”

 I invite you to do the same.

Are you brave enough to partner with God to pull down you sandbags?

This requires a vulnerability that is not encouraged in the world. The world tells us to pretend we know all and can do all on our own. The Word tells us the truth that we need Him in all things. Just as I did in the last blog, I exposed my mess. I’m going to do the same here. When we are open, honest and vulnerable. I think it helps others to do the same.

A few of my personal sandbags:

• Self-delusion to problems, denial, and planned ignorance

• Excuse of exhaustion

• Entertainment and invited distractions

  
  

No matter what your sandbags are and no matter how scary it seems to pull them down, the Lord has something better for you. He desires a deep relationship that allows total access to Him.

Be brave. Be vulnerable and exposed.

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26, ESV).

You might ask, why do we erect these sandbags?

People construct some based on experiences and the pain the enemy inflicted, while most build them out of a need or perceived need for self-protection. No matter the why to the sandbags in our life, we need to rip them down.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” (James 4:10, ESV).

I’ll be praying for you. Please pray for me.

Prayer for you and me: Lord, thank You for teaching me how to be vulnerable and available to Your promptings and to Your grace. We need to hear from You to walk out the desires of Your heart for us. We know that what You have planned for us exceeds any dream we might have for ourselves. Thank You for teaching us how to walk in Your victory. Thank You for Your ever-present grace as we do this walk of vulnerability. In Jesus’ name, Amen.