An Essential for Intimacy
“Open your heart to us!”
2 Corinthians 6:13b (NLT)
Is your heart opened or closed? It most likely depends on the relationship, doesn’t it? We can have an open heart toward one person while closing off our hearts to another. Marriage and family illustrate this concept well. A wife or husband may be totally open to a son or daughter while closing their heart to their mate. An open heart is essential for intimacy. It is trusting, loving, and engaging. When I close my heart, I’m more suspicious, withdrawn, and non-responsive. This was the case in the relationship of the Apostle Paul with the church he planted in Corinth. Issues had developed within the church that Paul had to address. His attempt at correcting those issues resulted in a number of people closing their hearts toward him. They became defensive and withdrawn. Paul writes to them with this appeal, “Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!” 2 Corinthians 6:11-13 (NLT)
Again, in the following chapter, he says, “Please open your hearts to us.” 2 Corinthians 7:2a (NLT). You can almost feel the angst and pain in his request to these people he loved. If you’ve ever experienced a loved one closing their hearts to you, you know what they were going through. How do you know when your heart is closed? When you close off your heart to another, you withhold your love from them. Is there someone to whom you have closed your heart? A closed heart can quickly become a hard heart – indifferent, calloused, and uncaring. Ask God to tenderize your heart. Time is short, and relationships matter.
Maybe you need to take the initiative and make the appeal to someone you love who has closed off their heart to you. Before you do, take some time to read 2 Corinthians 6 and 7 to see what Paul did that restored their relationship. Notice how he addresses the issues while affirming his love and encouraging those to whom he was appealing.
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.