When it comes to the subject of healing, freedom and transformation, it’s important to ask, “Are you ready for it? Have you recognized your need for heart healing?”
God’s work has a specific target: those who recognize their need for heart healing and are ready to humble themselves for His healing work. This may seem like a simple statement, but too many live their lives with little awareness for the deeper work of the heart they need.
But in fact, the Gospel that Jesus delivered, which was prophesied by Isaiah, was a Gospel that must be delivered to the “poor.”
To preach good tidings to the poor… Isaiah 61:1
To preach the gospel to the poor… Luke 4:18
Now what does that even mean? Who is the poor person here?
Poor is Not Just a Financial Thing
If you think “poor” simply refers to your financial status, then you’re missing the fullness of this invitation. This good news from a good God is not just meant for those who are financially broke. It’s also not exclusively targeted to those who are so outwardly broken, the homeless or only those in poverty-stricken nations. Certainly, the work of the Kingdom of God is for them. But too often, the rest of humanity distances themselves from admitting their own spiritual poverty.
Recognizing you are poor is not a pauper mindset. It’s a posture of humility, where you recognize your divine need for God to work in your heart continually. You recognize that you are no better than anyone around you, as you could easily fall into any ditch of sin they have stumbled into. You are humbly aware of your own brokenness and are in a continual process of healing and restoration.
“Poor” Means You Know You Need God
“Poor” is a person who realizes they need divine help. You are genuinely humble and lowly of heart. You don’t put yourself down, you have submitted your heart to Your Creator and you live out of that reality. There is a vulnerability that you are always “under construction.” This cultivates an authenticity amongst your relationships, where you display a healthy need for God and for the people He has put in your life. You never become distant from that.
In modern terminology, we associate “poor” exclusively for those who are struggling financially. In fact, we attach so much value on someone’s financial status, to the point that we believe that if someone is financially successful, it means God is blessing all their decisions and ways of life. It is our greatest deception. Subconsciously, we think that someone who has financial abundance is doing well. Yet quite often, those who are financially wealthy can also be the most spiritually and emotionally bankrupt. And they can be the last people to recognize it.
That is why Jesus said, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24). Anything is possible with God, but when riches keep you from being connected to your heart’s need of healing, you can easily develop a lifestyle of self-reliance, where your wealth deceives you into thinking “I am all set.”
Deceived to Thinking You Don’t Need Heart Healing
Jesus confronted this arrogance to the Laodicean church in the book of Revelation. They didn’t see that they were poor and in need, which distanced them from the deeper work of God.
Laodicea mirrors the modern-day church in many ways, as their sophistication, wealth and status led them to a life of self-deception. They became lukewarm and powerless, because their trust was hard-wired to their resources. Jesus called them to repent:
“Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” Revelation 3:17
Their deception led them to think, “I’m good.” When in reality, they had no idea they were naked, poor, blind, wretched and miserable. Those are strong words, showing how misguided the church can be in her self-perception.
This is what we are up against today. Our metrics for what it means to be “rich” are thrown off, while we cover up and avoid facing deep brokenness. Jesus was addressing a church that refused to admit or show their brokenness. It is critical that we break out of this lukewarm state and allow our hearts to engage God in the simplicity of loving fellowship.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20 (NKJV)
Don’t hear me wrong. I am not against rich people, being rich or even having great wealth. What I am targeting is this prevailing message that portrays you don’t think you need help. You don’t have issues. Everyone else is broken but you.
Spending Our Lives Covering Up
This is a tough subject in modern society because we are taught to hide our brokenness at all costs. I spend many hours with various people who have a lifetime of hiding and covering over their weak and wounded issues. Some of them become professionals at covering up. They can quote a list of Scriptures and spiritual statements to distance themselves from appearing flawed.
Social media encourages us to display our best and winning side, while hiding the broken, wounded and weak aspects of our life. We seem to show a lot of “winning” while ignoring the parts of our hearts that are naked, poor, blind, wretched and miserable.
The Pharisees did everything they could to cover up their broken hearts and deep needs. It’s easy to view their religious culture with a condescending eye. But we too can find ourselves living like “whitewashed sepulchers;” impressing those around us with great outward expressions, but little attention given to what’s underneath.
Why do we do everything we can to keep people from seeing our brokenness? Fear. We are just afraid. The problem is that pride joins our fears, keeping us from just admitting what we need and humbling ourselves to receive it.
Today would be a great day to simply humble our hearts and allow God to do a deeper work on our hearts.
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