When Adam declared himself naked before God he was ashamed.
I have found myself naked before God as well and it is certainly nothing to be proud of, but I found it to be a place of tremendous conviction but also a place of freedom.
When I was a young man, I would pray such condescending prayers.
Prayers of prideful arrogance.
Prayers that would hide and not reveal.
Prayers that would discreetly voice my sin without exposing my heart.
I honestly can not remember the day nor even the year, but I found myself gradually becoming much more honest with God.
I currently have two life verses, Nehemiah 13:31 and Luke 18:13.
Luke 18:13 is my verse for a naked heart.
“But the corrupt tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed, but beat upon his chest in sorrow, exclaiming, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.'”
This man stood before God with a naked heart.
Beating upon his chest and not even being able to look up toward heaven.
I can relate to that man.
Why do we attempt to hide ourselves from God anyway?
If we believe He knows all and sees all, it seems kind of silly to think God does not see the wickedness of our heart.
But God also sees the goodness of our heart.
The tender man standing before God with tears coming down his cheeks standing in the presence of God.
If you have never experienced that, as a man, then you have missed part of your rite of passage of being a man.
To stand before God knowing, not that you are weak, but that the strength you have in your natural man can only be enhanced by the strength that God offers you through your spiritual man.
True men of strength do not run away from God, they run toward God.
Where do men find their greatest strength?
By being a man with a naked heart.
Of all that King David did wrong, character flaws, bad judgment, quick to over react, yet God said, “His heart is like mine.”
Of all the compliments I might receive as a father, that would have to be one of the greatest I might receive.
Someone might say, “Oh, she has your eyes.” Or, “She has your fair skin.” Or even, “She has your temperament.”
None of that could match someone saying, “John, she has your heart. Her heart is like yours.”
Quit running, hiding and dodging.
You are wasting your time and your energy.
In an act of open honesty and with a naked heart before God pray this prayer, “But how can I ever know what sins are lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. And keep me from deliberate wrongs; help me to stop doing them. Only then can I be free of guilt and innocent of some great crime. May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:12-14
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