WEBVTT 00:04.267 --> 00:14.461 [SPEAKER_00]: In today's verse 15, we're continuing our focus on honesty, by looking at how we can tear down the walls we've built up in God's presence every day. 00:14.501 --> 00:31.405 [SPEAKER_00]: There is true life in vulnerability, and if we can trust God to be our shield, living with openness and love towards Him, ourselves and others, look experience a greater abundance of life than we thought was possible. 00:31.385 --> 00:36.140 [SPEAKER_00]: Let's come before God today with courage, trust, and humility. 00:37.143 --> 00:40.213 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 01:02.958 --> 01:24.747 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Acts 24 verse 16, Scripture says, I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. 01:27.848 --> 01:36.343 [SPEAKER_00]: In order to protect our hearts from the pain and wounds of the world, we both consciously and subconsciously build walls. 01:37.646 --> 01:40.070 [SPEAKER_00]: These walls take all sorts of forms. 01:41.332 --> 01:48.405 [SPEAKER_00]: Some walls are built for appearance, so that outward beauty covers up inward brokenness. 01:48.385 --> 01:58.046 [SPEAKER_00]: Some walls are built to be strong and tough so that pride and strength cover up inward vulnerability and self-consciousness. 01:59.469 --> 02:07.727 [SPEAKER_00]: Some walls are built in order to blend in so that people pass us by altogether and never try to know us. 02:09.007 --> 02:12.852 [SPEAKER_00]: Whatever wall we choose to build, one things for certain. 02:13.673 --> 02:21.503 [SPEAKER_00]: The walls might guard us from harm, but they also keep us from ever experiencing true life. 02:23.465 --> 02:29.333 [SPEAKER_00]: Abundant life comes from being both fully known and then fully loved. 02:30.514 --> 02:37.343 [SPEAKER_00]: We can't experience the love of God and others if we don't allow ourselves to be known. 02:38.217 --> 02:41.762 [SPEAKER_00]: We can't experience God's grace and affection for us. 02:42.443 --> 02:48.052 [SPEAKER_00]: If we shield ourselves from Him, out of fear that He will see us and reject us. 02:49.574 --> 02:58.587 [SPEAKER_00]: And whenever someone tries to love us fully, we will always reject their love by saying, if you truly knew me, you wouldn't love me. 02:59.549 --> 03:02.673 [SPEAKER_00]: Living with walls up isn't really living. 03:03.434 --> 03:04.596 [SPEAKER_00]: It's surviving. 03:06.027 --> 03:07.830 [SPEAKER_00]: God knows our pains. 03:08.871 --> 03:10.113 [SPEAKER_00]: He knows our wounds. 03:11.515 --> 03:19.466 [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 34, 18 says, The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves the crushed and spirit. 03:20.988 --> 03:22.410 [SPEAKER_00]: God is for you. 03:23.512 --> 03:26.496 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs to be near you and save you. 03:27.638 --> 03:34.768 [SPEAKER_00]: But in order for you to experience the fullness of His love and healing, you have to let Him in. 03:34.748 --> 03:58.056 [SPEAKER_00]: In order for you to experience true life, you have to stop trusting in your walls to protect you and start trusting in the powerful capable hands of your loving father. 04:00.095 --> 04:02.759 [SPEAKER_00]: God is the one who protects our hearts. 04:03.941 --> 04:14.596 [SPEAKER_00]: There is nothing we can do to fully shield ourselves from the wounds this world causes, except allow our hearts to be fully open to God. 04:16.119 --> 04:18.763 [SPEAKER_00]: Only in God can we have confidence. 04:20.044 --> 04:28.617 [SPEAKER_00]: Only in God can we trust, and only in God will we experience true abundant life. 04:29.423 --> 04:33.567 [SPEAKER_00]: take time today to tear down your walls brick by brick. 04:34.889 --> 04:47.563 [SPEAKER_00]: Stop placing your hope in that which can't ever truly protect you and look to God as your great protector that you might be fully known and fully loved today. 04:49.084 --> 04:55.431 [SPEAKER_00]: May your time of guided prayer be marked by freedom and deliverance in the Holy Spirit. 05:15.762 --> 05:44.807 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, meditate on the importance of living without walls up. 06:00.970 --> 06:24.480 [SPEAKER_00]: And next, where do you place your hope for protection? 06:25.220 --> 06:29.078 [SPEAKER_00]: What walls have you built that you might not be truly known? 06:29.098 --> 06:32.935 [SPEAKER_00]: In what ways are you guarding yourself? 06:56.827 --> 06:57.641 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you. 07:12.115 --> 07:20.106 [SPEAKER_00]: confess to God any places you've given your trust and place your hope for protection in him alone. 07:21.628 --> 07:29.999 [SPEAKER_00]: Journal or think about any walls you've built up and respond to God's promise of nearness and healing by giving him your heart. 07:30.620 --> 07:35.707 [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 577 says, My heart is confident in you, O God. 07:36.168 --> 07:37.870 [SPEAKER_00]: My heart is confident. 08:10.705 --> 08:23.101 [SPEAKER_00]: It's important to take note when you begin to build walls around your heart. 08:24.243 --> 08:34.116 [SPEAKER_00]: Run to God when you feel insecure, rather than building a walls that have to be torn down again, seek to live openly and honestly. 08:35.478 --> 08:39.463 [SPEAKER_00]: May you feel God's hand of protection around your heart today. 08:58.715 --> 09:01.018 [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for listening to today's podcast. 09:01.439 --> 09:03.182 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with First 15. 09:04.003 --> 09:11.254 [SPEAKER_00]: As you go about your day today, look for opportunities to tear down a wall or two that have been built up in your relationships. 09:12.135 --> 09:15.780 [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe there's a wall between you and your spouse or a coworker. 09:16.501 --> 09:19.946 [SPEAKER_00]: And maybe it'll take a conversation to make it happen. 09:19.966 --> 09:28.519 [SPEAKER_00]: But allow God to take what's happened here as you've met with him and let it build 09:28.499 --> 09:33.548 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you see Kim.