Heart-Deep

Never having owned nor operated a cart or a horse, I do [however] understand the concept of getting the "cart before the horse." It is a principle you do not want to learn the hard way! A Puritan prayer goes like this: "Destroy in me every lofty thought, break pride to pieces and scatter it to the winds." The destroying, breaking and scattering is a tough task and one we are ill-equipped to do. God, however, is able and willing to destroy, break and scatter perfectly the pride of one willing to bend to Him. There was something extraordinary about the young maiden, Mary: "The angel said to her ... "you have found favor with God." (Luke 1:30). The Greek meaning of the "favor" Mary had found with The Father was "a spiritual condition governed by the power of divine grace." We see Mary's gentle submission to God's purpose in her life, but it was way more than what she did - her surrender to Almighty God was from her heart. She had allowed God to destroy her lofty thoughts, break pride to pieces and scatter it to the winds. Mary's nature was to be governed by God ... therein is the winning favor of God - and for us. "Thus will my heart be a prepared dwelling for my God; then can The Father take up His abode in me ... then can The Holy Spirit descend in sanctifying grace." (Puritan Prayer, The Valley of Vision). What we do really does matter but who we are matters most; true surrender is always ... heart-deep.