The power of the cross isn’t found is not in what you do, but in what has already been done for you.
Let that soak in for a moment.
It’s not our strength or power that will transform us. Yes, we make changes. Yes, we open our scabbed and broken heart to His tender touch. Yes, we allow Him to move us in uncomfortable directions to discover new paths–and leave old ones behind.
We can stop stressing, because our healing is not solely–or even primarily–dependent on us. ←{Click to tweet this}
It’s a partnership. You and God — and He’s bigger.
Today I’m speaking to that woman who says, “I’ve tried everything. It’s not enough. I’m not enough.”
You know what? You’re right. Sometimes we AREN’T enough, but we don’t have to do this alone.
Read these verses and personalize them with your name:
This is real love—not that
we{your name} loved God, but that he lovedus{your name} and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take awayour{your name} sins. John 4:10 (NLT)If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for {your name} the one that is lost? 13 And if he finds {your name}
it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice overit{your name} more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! 14 In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones {your name} should perish. Matthew 18:12-14 (NLT)
But Suzie, my brokenness isn’t due to my sin. It’s due to another’s sin.
Oh, friend, may I share some beautiful news with you? Jesus didn’t just come to remove our sins, but that same act has the power to remove the effect of other’s sins upon our heart and lives. ←{Click to tweet this}
So, read the verses one more time.
- He came to heal your heart. He came to battle and conquer sin, and the mark upon our hearts.
- If you have felt lost or alone, He’s been searching for you.
Today, your #mendedheartchallenge is to rest in this truth: I do not have to do this alone anymore.
After reading the Introduction and Chapter One, answer this question:
Q: Why was Luke 4:18-19 a surprising Mission Statement to the people in the crowd? (page 20)
Q: Is this Mission Statement still relevant today? Do we live as if it is?
Read through pages 25-28. Share your thoughts, questions, or aha moments as you read this. Let’s talk about this together.
Instant tears. I need those truths to wash over me.
Father, thank you for Pam. You have not missed her hurting heart, and today these truths are hers to embrace. They are scripture. They are powerful. They are life transforming.
God is truly AMAZING! I have been struggling this past week with my own issues regarding faith. This email spoke to me this morning and I truly appreciate this awe-inspiring message! God bless!! 🙂
Lord, I stand beside Shonda today as we hold close these truths and make them part of our thinking, our response to life, our view of whose we are. Thank you for encouraging her today. May she embrace this word all day long as she realizes she does not have to do this alone. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Thank you Lord for powerfully showing me how personal your love is!
Putting my name in those verses is so powerful Suzie. I was supposed to go to bible study at church this morning but my little one is too sick and God just met me right here with His words and His words thru you. My heart so needed this. I can’t wait to work on the rest of the questions.
Growing up I went to a Christian school where they preached you should fear God and you have to “earn” God’s love. Because of that I’ve always felt so unworthy of God’s grace and love because I am a sinner and I feel like I fail him daily. The introduction and Chapter One really spoke to me. I’m resting in the truth that I don’t have to do this alone, Jesus will meet me right where I am at and we are all loved and equal in God’s eyes. I need to stop being so hard on myself and learn to love myself more because God sure does love me!
This is a profound step toward healing. It’s also more transforming than trying to earn our way into His love. <3 We start to listen because we are not afraid or hiding from His presence. We respond out of joy rather than shame. We obey because we trust rather than because we strive. Totally a different approach, and harder at times, but freeing.
I am 58 years old. I have felt alone all my life even though I was married for 29 years. I divorced my husband with the help of a man I truly thought was God sent. As quickly as he came into my life he left, leaving me shattered. But I have never been more at peace and closer to Jesus than I am today. Even though it still hurts every day, I go on because I know I am not alome, in all this mess, He is here. I feel sorry for all involved. I can’t fix anyone and I so desperately want to. We all just want to be loved. I can’t do this alone.
My heart has been broken so many times. I am an encourager in a Freedom in Christ ministry and Luke 4:18-19 describes our goals. I have highlighted and underlined so much of the Intro and Chapter 1that I know this book is for me. I live with another person’s choices that on a bad day I wonder if my heart will ever be mended. I encourage others to forgive, I do try to walk in forgiveness sometimes though I just feel like I will never have a mended heart. Yet as I have read, highlighted, answered the questions, I have hope. Your statement above, Jesus didn’t just come to remove my sins, but the same act has the power to remove the effects of the other’s sin upon my heart and my life. Today is a good day, I have hope. When I start to strive or hide and think I am alone, I will make the choice to rest in God, and what he has done for me. Blessings. Diana
Good afternoon Suzie,
This my miracle, for today, I always thought I should be to handle every battle on my own, but through studying Scripture and praying more I’m beginning to realize I don’t have to any more. I had a friend who had asked me to pray for someone, and I said yes and she sent me a text this morning thanking me for prayer and that the persons prayers were answered, I told this person that I was happy for them and asked for prayer for someone who I love. She sent me back a text and asked how often do I pray, I thought that was a strange question so I replied All the time. I received another text saying how many times a day and how many hours a day. I immediately felt insulted, but instead of answering I prayed first and asked for advice. I did answer back but only saying I was glad to pray for her and I was glad her friend received their answer to their prayer. I only want prayer for someone else, and that I do pray constantly. She replied back I’m praying for you and your family. God helped me to not react in a negative way. With out constantly praying and reading scripture I don’t think I would have reacted the same way! I just wanted to share how for the first time I saw prayer helped me. It reminded me that I don’t have to feel alone in my battles. I’ll keep fighting my battles but not alone anymore.
Thanks! For encouragement!
Janet
Hi Suzie 🙂
Thank you so much for writing this book. I’ve only read one chapter so far and it has already been sooooo liberating!
Even though I can’t remember how I (happily) “stumbled upon” your blog last week (I wish I could!)… I do know Who sent me there to find exactly what I was searching for and praying about & in need of for this season. 🙂
And I am so grateful to both of you <3
I love your words here Suzie, “”God will NOT leave you unchanged. Return His love, Trust Jesus, Listen for His voice.” As we grow in the knowledge of His love for us – really understanding the depths off His love for us – it transforms us. I know on my personal journey, understanding the depths of His love was the game changer. I grew up believing in God, loving Him. Yet after numerous losses, I tried to be whole in my own strength. When I stopped running and began to trust Him without question.. it was only then I realized he had been holding me all along, and desired a relationship with me. He continues to transform me from the inside out as He works in my heart. I am able to listen and hear His voice
Thank you for writing this book.
Suzie, I’m so glad God brought these words to me through your book. Perfect timing! I am one who is scared to trust, filled with worries over whether or not He can heal little ol’ me. I’m praying for God to “scoop me up” too.
Suzie,
Tonight I finally got to sit down and be quiet and read the Introduction and 1st chapter of “The Mended Heart.” I know beyond a doubt that the Holy Spirit brought me this book, this study, and you.I cried through the first chapter as I realized that all the desperate seeking and searching I have done, looking for a way to make God feel closer, to make the pain bearable… it was my attempt to, for the first time in my life, not feel completely alone. When I got to the questions at the end of the chapter, I was reading Matthew18:12-14 and the Holy Spirit spoke to me. As I read of the 99 sheep, & the one who had gone astray, I thought of the wrong paths I have taken, looking for Jesus. And as I read verse 14, I heard in my heart the words, “You are worth it.” Never before have I felt God speaking to me so clearly. I’ve only made it through questions one and two, but I think that’s enough for tonight. I just want to bask in the feeling of His love and the whispered words that told me that I am worth it.
Thank you, Suzie. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for what YOU have done.
“He steered their worried thoughts away from what they couldn’t do or hadn’t done and toward Himself, offering peace in exchange for their anxiety.”
“Perhaps worry has been an integral part of your thought process for a long time. You may have come to believe that healing has something to do with what you bring to the table.”
These portions from pages 26-27 just really hit a nerve for me. I have struggled with worry and fear since I was a small child and recently have been having anxiety attacks again- I can relate to worry being an integral part of my thought process. I have tried to pretend like it didn’t matter, that it wasn’t a big deal, but it hasn’t worked. I would like very much to learn at a heart level that it is a partnership and God is bigger! It helped me so much to start to think about that I don’t have to do this alone…
Suzie,
The timing of this is just amazing, as I told you before! I am behind, as I’m just starting this. But it doesn’t matter. GOD’S timing is perfect! He knows! I am also reading Andrew Murray’s book “Abide in Christ”, and you wouldn’t believe the similarities between this first chapter you have written and his book. SO many things point to abiding in HIM….allowing HIM to do the work in us, and resting in His love. He is peeling off more layers from me right now, so the timing of this is just wonderful. Thank you! Looking forward to continuing!!