Activ8Her Devotional

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centered around the monthly theme. Here's this weeks!

#Arise Empowered

WEEK TWO: Do you have too many boundaries with God?

Suggested Song - “Letting Go” by Steffany Gretzinger

Thoughts -

Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV)

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

God’s mercy is here to transform us and make us new. But He can only do His work if you let Him in.

In last week’s devotional, we discussed healthy boundaries with people. Creating healthy boundaries with one another, allows us to make space for God to take down any boundaries we have with Him. In His mercy and grace, He wants to take down the walls of your heart so He can do a good work in you.

Mercy is the compassionate care of those who are in distress. What better way to describe God’s ability to attend to our every need. We really can do nothing without His mercy, but we also need to allow His mercy to work.

Are there walls surrounding your heart? Barriers that keep you from fully experiencing the fullness of God's love and grace? Perhaps you've built up these defenses over time as a means of self-protection or due to past hurts and disappointments. But God, because of His infinite love and mercy, desires to break down those boundaries and bring about transformation in your heart.

What holds us back? What holds you back? Fear is often the culprit. We might fear God will see our messiness, so we put up boundaries with Him, and try to hide or ignore our areas of struggle. But that is exactly where He needs to be.

Think about the areas of your heart where you may have some fortified walls. Is it fear, insecurity, pride, or past wounds that have caused you to erect these barriers? Take a moment to surrender these areas to God. Invite Him to come in and break down those boundaries, allowing His compassionate care for your distress to flow freely into your heart.

Psalm 51:10 (NIV): "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." When David prayed this prayer he was asking for God to come and take down his boundaries. God wants your messiness. God wants to be able to come in and do a work within your heart.

Reflect -

Identify the barriers: Take some time to reflect on the areas of your heart where you may have built walls. What are the underlying emotions or experiences that have led to these barriers?
Surrender to God: Bring these areas before God in prayer and ask Him to help you surrender them to Him. Trust that He is able to break down those boundaries and bring about transformation in your heart.
Be open to change: As you invite God to work in your heart, be open to the changes He may bring about. Trust that His plans for you are good, and He desires to lead you into a deeper relationship with Him.
Seek His Word and His presence: Spend time in prayer and meditation on Scripture, allowing God's Word to penetrate your heart and renew your mind. Draw near to Him in worship and praise, knowing that He delights in the presence of His children.

Additional Reading - 1 John 4:18-19, Galatians 5:22-23,
Ephesians 2:13-14, Romans 5: