I’ve learned to listen more when a heart is speaking. If I’ll wait long enough Holy Spirit will give me a glimpse at the unique need.

At some point, He had to teach me that “His gentleness makes me great.” (Psalm 18:35)

I’ve not always been in such a place. There was a season where perhaps self-righteousness came first, a hurting heart came second. It’s a shameful admission but, nonetheless, true.

I’m grateful He didn’t allow me to stay in that place of harshness and truth delivery that merely clangs a loud cymbal. For I’ve seen His gentleness let me hold a pained soul in my arms. One full of questions about this Jesus and the struggle to let go of the old life and fear, not the new creation life Christ was promising.

You don’t learn these types of things through study, friends. You learn them on the battlefield where crushing becomes a divine tool that changes you forever.

Either we learn and become gentle like Christ or we become more bitter and brutal to others. Both can happen.

Humbling seasons don’t always yield a gentle heart if pride has taken root. But if our heart desires His fullness of Spirit then He will teach us the deep things of His word, layer by layer. I’ve learned it’s critical to remain teachable always. A “know it all” actually knows very little.

How did the Pharisees know so well the Word, and know Christ, not at all?

A good question to keep before the throne, always, lest we fall prey to the same demise.

I’ve learned control is over-rated. Providence is divine. His ways are not our ways, truly!!! I’ve learned He really does love to confound the wise and call the very ones others would never choose. It makes me smile. I’ve always been a fan of the underdog-seems He is too.

I’ve seen Him speak with the wind, highlight His Word in a moment, and drop His heart into my Spirit as our oneness is aligned through prayer.

I’ve watched Him silence my tongue, defend me from wolves, and remind me again-“hold your peace.”

I’ve learned to love the high road where I choose not to make Him sad when He knows I’m angry and the flesh wants to lash out. I’ve seen how He makes crooked paths straight, redeemed broken dreams, and honored a pained obedience.

I’ve watched Him dry my eyes, hover over me when I’ve cried in my pillow, and remind me of my saved seat at His dinner table.

I’ve felt the brush of His hand when I’ve been deeply wounded, felt the nudge to arise when I thought I would never again, and I’ve had Him come face to face to remind me who I am before commanding me to the next assignment.

Still, I am not satisfied. I desire more.

I’d like to see Him heal the lame, bind more broken hearts, release people from devils, and utterly wreck a room.

I want more than what I’ve seen because I know there is more He wants to show.

You’ll have to learn to abide in His heart by digging deeply into His Word. But you’ll have to let Him take you into each scene with His own eyes or you will misunderstand and misinterpret what’s actually happening. Many a scholar reads with literal intellect rather than an enlightenment of the eyes of the heart that Paul speaks of. (Ephesians 1:18)

It will take many valley seasons to keep you close to Him. I’ve learned we tend to stray when all is going our way and if not careful we will leave Him altogether. I’ve even learned to miss some valleys because Him being close to the broken-hearted is a tangible manifestation of His presence that I’ve not really found in any other place. It’s a place that draws Him quickly.

I’ve learned that one must hold onto child-like faith especially in the church environment. For debates and theologies have a way of robbing purity, simplicity, and innocence from the heart of Christ.

On that note, I’ve learned one more thing…

That out of all the songs birthed from Heaven to others or to me, I cling to this one and hear Him often singing it in my ear.

Jesus loves me this I know

For the Bible tells me so

Little ones to Him belong

They are weak but He is strong.

May it be held close to your own heart when the devil brings confusion and may you have learned to silence him quickly with its simple melody and lyric.

Sing it loud if you have to but please do sing it💕