Prepared Heart Illustration

Acceptable Functioning

Behaviors and choices that won’t get us into too much trouble


Debris

Underneath the lid are our emotions and beliefs:
Hurt, and the anger it causes
Confusion remaining from unresolved events
Conflict in our image of ourselves and of God
Mistrust in proportion to the hurt and brokenness suffered
Fear of intimacy, causing inappropriate, controlling behaviors
Conclusions, beliefs, and expectation levels based on old patterns
These produce barriers to hearing and responding to God

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Created Characteristics

Underneath the debris are created qualities:
Tenderness, innocence, spontaneity, trust, joy, childlikeness
Need and desire for God, vulnerability,
Being free to receive and return His love
Ease in depending on the One who loves us
Excitement about life, faith and zeal for God, energy to "go for it"
These qualities connect us to God
He retrieves them so they can be all the way "out here" with Him!