Cracked Wide Open

The craving came while fighting to keep my eyes open on New Year's Eve. I was watching a horrible movie (horrible only because I can't take any more sadness than real life already offers me -- Fault in Our Stars is horrible!) and I had a sudden longing to be cracked wide open in the presence of God.

Terrible timing, but I was craving an emptying of myself--all my hurt, my struggle, my fear--so I could know the satisfying fullness of God's love and assurance in a personal way. I was craving His getting it-- all of it. The being fully known and understood without all the work of making myself known and the disappointing attempts at being understood. But I couldn't crack myself open just then -- there was that horrible movie to check out of and people to ring in the New Year with. What was important was the realization for my need and the absolute health for this.

The craving brings me to you today with a want to help us both practice opening our hearts more and more to our Abba God on an ongoing basis -- the God who loves and knows and gets it. All of it. Here's January's Heart Practice sheet to help us get started with this whole Hope On Purpose thing!

I plan on starting a notebook and printing off one sheet each week to work through so I am constantly absorbing and thinking on and listening from this one place of opening my heart so He can unite my heart. But you customize this to fit you. Once might be all you need or not at all is also an option! Just practice opening your heart to more of God -- no corner left untouched. Our future selves will thank us for being intentional now. And our present selves won't know what to do with the beautiful changes taking place! Wha'do ya say? Want to take a crack at it?! (I couldn't resist! Get it? crack -- open, take a... okay, nevermind.)