Openness is two way. We are willing to give and receive. We are willing to act on what we receive.

The woman’s hope was in flight. Depression squeezed her ability to function. Troubles on the home field felt that they were causing layers of upheaval. Custody battles were becoming large. Despair and hopelessness swirled around her. Thoughts from her past were opening afresh–this, and wounds still bleeding from throughout the years had passed but not completely. Thoughts of suicide ran circles in her mind. Fears for herself led her to admit herself into a facility for those who are suicidal.

That is when I got the call from her friend asking me to pray. This woman was in a group of women I was teaching. I then asked two others from the group to pray for her–but I gave no reason other than it was important.

While in her room in the facility, when she was alone, the desperate feelings had not left but were slowly dissipating. With her, she had only one book. It was the Bible. Her hunger for God’s help caused her to look at it. In time she laid it all out before him. She implored him. She gave him her hopelessness, her desperation for his help.

And then it happened. God let her know that her heard her plea. He surrounded her with his love and caused her to look to him. Comfort enveloped her. It was a rare appointment away from all other things.

Little will change in our spiritual walks until we get serious with God. However, there is a caveat. We tend to draw a conclusion that serious with God means the outward routines of going to church, not speaking in anger, and following the ten commandments, which are good things of course. But praying and devotional life plus good living and church attendance are the formula that many good, righteous, spiritual persons follow and are comfortably pleased with as enough. But is that right?

Her soul injuries. Her choices. Her hopelessness, her desperation for his help were needed big time. It gets the job done and can produce some amazing results. But there is one big, huge, missing chunk in this formula. It says you can have a good, clean lack of vitality and life. It is wrong since it falls short. There is an energy in close relationship with God. They will exhibit transformation as their life softens and deepens because of the presence of God in them. Having an open flow of communication and a fellowship within them is key to this full life.

How does this work, you may ask. There is one essential ingredient that is a necessary requirement–that is in addition to the other qualities i.e. repentance, surrender, and commitment–a person must become open with God. They share every aspect of their life. Similar to the human marital relationship, a failure to be transparent and open with a mate will lead to disunity or a weak joining with God. We will give less than our best.

You can have spirituality without a deepening relationship with God. The truth is, you can have a spiritual good, clean positive Christian experience but it will lack vitality and life. There is an energy that is released in the person who walks in close relationship with God. They exhibit transformation as their life softens and deepens because of the presence of God in them.

How does this work, you may ask. There is one essential ingredient that is a necessary requirement–that is in surrender and commitment. A person must become open with God about every aspect of their life. Similar to the human marital relationship, a failure to be transparent and open with a mate will lead to disunity or a weak joining. We will give less than our best. This causes an insincerity of purpose on our end. God works with what we give him. The more open we are with the good, the more he can demonstrate his love to us. Frankly, it takes effort, openness and honesty.

God is a good father. You do not need to be afraid or concerned that your openness will be met with condemnation or hostility. God will respect your admissions and honor your rightness. He will forgive your trespasses and sins, and he will value your weaknesses you bring willingly to his attention. God is in the healing and restoring business. He work is with what we give him and allow Him to touch and change.

. . .

My friend, what are you holding back from God? What is it that you are afraid to release? God desires to help you. It is not true that God helps those who help themselves. This is because those who seek him will find him. Then rest in Him. You have a wonderful opportunity ahead of you. All your pain and dissatisfaction with your life is not what you have to overcome, for it is part of living in a fallen world. But what can be overcome is your bent to self-destruction or self-righteousness. God has a plan for you–and it is a good plan.

Action–Ask God where you are not open or transparent with him. Listen for his answer. He will reveal it in some way. Acknowledge this to him. Seek Him for answers. He may use Godly people or his Word to direct you. Submit it to God’s loving intention. Repeat the process. Continue to periodically open your life to God. You won’t be sorry.