"Heart Shattered Lives" - 07/06/17 - Psalms 51-57

"Going through the motions doesn’t please You,
    a flawless performance is nothing to You.
I learned God-worship
    when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
    don’t for a moment escape God’s notice." (Psalm 51:16-17)

She stood at one of the three sinks in the public bathroom.  The one in the corner.  Her stuff was piled on the floor beside her, level with the counter top.  In one hand were the remains of a dirty rag and the other held a small sample bottle of hand sanitizer.  Over and over she continued to wipe down the counter.  Wringing the remnant of the rag under the full force of the water.  When the bottle of "sanitizer" was empty, she held it under the water, until it was filled up.  At times, she would rest her weary head in her hands as she viewed what she was doing as a never ending job. 

Nichalas once said, "Chicago is a place where you can never be alone, but is one of the loneliest cities in the world". 

She stood there with women surrounding her, the line snaked around and out the door, yet she was in her own world.  Talking to herself, mumbling words I could only pick up here and there.  The anxiousness and anxiety poured out of her eyes like the water pouring out of the faucet. 

Her actions brought to mind these verses.  Her “flawless performance” in cleaning the sink, was only smearing the unseen germs around on the counter top.  Over and over she was going through the motions, all the while using improper tools.  And when she was done, she let go a breath of relief.  Her pride in her work was momentary for in her mind, she still saw the filth and would begin the futile process over again. 

Just as God sees us when we are living outside of Christ, trying to cleanse sin in our hearts by doing things "our" way.  There is only one way to our ABBA and that is our Savior.  Jesus Christ. 

The all of our life - it has to be all about Him.  
 
It has to be from a changed heart, not just lip service.  Just as sitting in a garage doesn't make us a car, neither does just going through the motions bring us into an intimacy with Him.
 
Looking at my life I see many “heart-shattered” moments as He has/is growing me.  Cleansing my heart with The Blood of our Savior.  Shattered from the life of "self", of just going through the motions, as my relationship with Him has moved from superficial to intimate.

Although those "heart-shattered" moments cause us great pain, it is only then we are ready for Love.

The Love of our Savior.  Jesus Christ.