Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Walls

Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That wants it down.
~from Mending Wall by Robert Frost~

Walls are often necessary in life and serve useful purposes: protection, security, even beauty.

There is one place, however, that I don't want a wall. That place is my heart, my soul.

It's probably the easiest place to build a wall; no one can see it, and we can even convince ourselves it's not there.

Walls in the soul are built to keep God out . . . to keep others at a distance . . . even in an effort to hide guilt or bad memories from ourselves.

But walls make a heart heavy . . . and hardened . . . and bitter . . . and love's flow is blocked. A heart with walls is a divided heart . . . a heart not completely yielded to God. That kind of heart breaks His great heart of love.

The Psalmist prayed: Give me an undivided heart. That's my prayer, too.

A heart like Yours is my desire.
A heart like Yours is what I am searching for -
Full of compassion, nothing wrong within
Please hear me, Lord;
Give me a heart like Yours.
~CeCe Winans~

13 comments:

Nancy said...

Beautiful!

Mari said...

Walls do have their place, but not in the soul! Great post!

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

What you've said is so true and I agree that those walls have no place in our hearts...

Ginny Hartzler said...

I love these comments about walls dividing hearts, and the quote from Psalms is very good!! Much to ponder...

Southern Lady said...

I pray for a heart completely given to God. I don't want any walls to stand between me and my Savior. Thanks for the lovely post. Carla

Unknown said...

That is really beautiful Glenda. Tear down those walls!!

S. Etole said...

Thank you for this today ...

Connie said...

You give us much to ponder. Thanks.

Unknown said...

What great advice and insight there is in your words.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Glenda, Great post about 'walls'.... You are right.. We do need them around us.. Kids today definitely need boundaries --and walls around them to keep them safe. AND--we adults need walls and boundaries also---but as you said, not when it comes to God.... We need to open ourselves totally up to God and God's love. Praise be to God for that!!!

We've had a wonderful day today at the beach... Beautiful weather after the rain yesterday (clear, sunny, breezy, warm---PERFECT)...

Hugs,
Betsy

Dawn said...

Have a great time with the Phillips! We'll be missing them here. Who's the presiding general this year for you?

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Glenda,
I just found your blog through Betsy's blog. This sure is a wonderful devotion about not building walls around your heart and to let the Lord touch our hearts. I really like your blog and the uplifting devotions. Please visit my blog at: http://blueridgepoet.blogspot.com. I hope you have a blessed Mother's Day.

Sharon Lynne said...

Well said. I pray I have no walls in my soul.

Sometimes we need boundries...but we must be careful and draw boundries with God's guidance.