Keep Out

I see you
locked away,
in your private
world of pain.

I want
to reach you
with good news,
but your door
is tightly shut.

The notice to
keep out
swings
on rusty hinges.

It has remained
in place
for decades,
and the sentiment
hasn't changed.

I want
to see
you free,
but you can't fathom
what that would look like,
and you would
rather stay
with the devil you know
than a thought
that is different.

I know
you won't
receive
the answer
until you have
asked the question.

I pray
one day soon,
those words
will come to you.

Heart Of Stone

The heart of stone
sits within
the chest wall,
weighty and still.

It functions
physically,
but has
lost all
spiritual momentum.

It cannot
sense the highs
and lows of life,
and cannot care for others
or for self.

It is utterly empty,
and more than cold.

The heart of stone
is not born,
but made
by bitter circumstances
and painful dealings,
piling on,
suffocating life
and love.

There is but
one remedy.

A faith transaction,
giving the
heart of stone
to the Lord,
and receiving anew
a heart of flesh.

The World Pressed In

The world pressed in on me,
and I pressed back
knowingly.

Knowing it was not good for me,
I let my thoughts
settle on something
offering a distraction,
and more.

It held my attention,
which was given
freely.

It did not satisfy.

I was left with
a sour sensation
of hollowness,
and although
the thought had
not yet manifested
into external action,
intimacy had been
broken between
the Lord's heart and mine.

It was my doing,
and I had to do
the undoing,
repenting and returning
to the altar of grace,
asking for my heart
to be softened again,
to become a heart
of flesh
sensitive to the Spirit's
leading and wise
boundary marking.

My peace is restored
by the One who knows
what is the best for me,
if I am willing to listen.

Ask The Lord

When you don't know what to do,
when you don't know what to say,
ask the Lord.

When you don't know how to give,
when you don't know how to care,
ask the Lord.

When you don't know where to go,
when you don't know if to stay,
ask the Lord.

When you don't know where to start,
when you don't know how to forgive,
ask the Lord.

When you don't know what to write,
when you don't know what to send,
ask the Lord.

When you don't have the answer,
when you can't express your heart,
ask the Lord.

He will show you.
He will guide you.

Ask the Lord.