Audience of One~15

⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

1 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV

The Bing dictionary defines vulnerable as being without physical protection, extremely susceptible, physically or psychologically weak, and opened to attack.

When you come before the Lord with your heart, do you leave the vulnerable parts of your heart behind?  In other words, do you go before the Lord masking your true self?  Or, do you come before Him as you are with all your spiritual, emotional, and psychological guts hanging out, lacking defense?

When we enter into the Lord’s presence we are to reduce ourselves into a vulnerable state.  That can be difficult to do if you have been hurt, are in denial, or are ashamed of sin in your life.  However, it is the only way to put on Christ, and receive what He has done for us.  We are spiritually bankrupt, and we have to declare it, and thank God for the riches He gives us in His Son.

Even today I had to strip down the walls around past hurts that have caused me to prevent loving others and myself.  Facing the past with honesty, and the fact that I still carry the wounds of abuse, is a difficult thing to do.  Yet, this is the battle I fight daily in order to be real with God, and learn to live and love in an audience of One.  An example of that honesty is that I want to protect myself by isolating myself from others.  Especially if they have given me any reason to feel a lack of security.  Another example is that a wound I thought was healed is actually not.  “If you poke a scar and it still hurts, then it is a wound.”  Profound words from Beth Moore I use to identify vulnerability in my life.

If I cannot come honestly to the throne of grace, and with all of my vulnerability then I am denying the strength God can be in my weaknesses. I am also denying His ability to heal me.  If we cannot come before God honestly, and let Him work on the areas we are vulnerable in, then the enemy is for certain going to take advantage of them.  He will bet your life on that one.

Vulnerability is something that the world often does not want to see in you.  In fact, if you can hide your vulnerable side, people are more comfortable around you because it doesn’t remind them of their own vulnerability.  Then of course if you have been hurt, the world tells you to protect yourself.  The problem there is our real protection comes from God. Yes there are boundaries we need to learn, but we must also walk in love.  Learning to do both, takes a lot of practice and trust in God.

Are there areas in your life where you are not being vulnerable before God?  Does the feeling of vulnerability make you want to run from His love and protection, instead of run to Him?  Choose not to allow the feelings to prevent you from coming honestly before Him.

Your audience of One already knows anyway, but He wants you to yield yourself to Him so you can live and love like Him. We have to learn to receive love, before we can give it away.

Don’t be afraid of vulnerability, Beloved. His grace is sufficient for all of us!

❤ Melinda