Pause In His Presence Part 5

Hearts Entwined

For how could anyone be disgraced when he has entwined his heart with you? But they will all be defeated and ashamed when they harm the innocent. – Psalm 25:3, TPT

I’ve been chewing on this verse for a few days now.  The imagery of a heart entwined with the Father’s is breathtaking.  This really comes alive to me in the Passion Translation, but I like the English Standard Version of the first part as well:  “…none who wait for you shall be put to shame…”  

It may be just me, but I tend to see verses pop out at me from the page. I know that this is the Holy Spirit wanting to speak, so I grab a hold of the verse and rip it apart.  I read it in several translations, look at the original Greek or Hebrew meaning, read all the context around it, and then I ask the Lord how I can apply it to my life.  Usually, because of how I am wired, I then turn it into an encouragement for others.  But this particular verse was different for me.  I could not move past these two translations, and I could not move past the very first part of the verse.

“…none who wait for you shall be put to shame…”  

The Hebrew meaning of the word “wait” here actually means to “bind together,” or to entwine (Strong’s h6960).  I believe the Passion Translation so beautifully translated it from the Father’s love.  To have our hearts entwined with His is not just a nice concept; it is a REALITY for every daughter or son of the Most High.

I don’t know who may be dealing with shame or disgrace right now, but even as I type this I feel the Father’s heartbeat for you.  I feel Him longing to wash the shame off of you, to remove the disgrace from your shoulders.  As a child of God, you are NOT a person who carries shame or disgrace, but you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and there is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).  

Any sense of shame a child of God feels is an external feeling brought by the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10).  

Regardless of whether or not you actually did make a poor choice, it’s no longer you that lives but Christ IN you (Galatians 2:20) and you therefore only acted out of character because you believed a lie.  Repentance and embracing truth again is all that’s needed.  

And yet the devil is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8), and we are not unaware of his schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11).  Especially to keep us in bondage.

I believe the key to overcoming the voice of the accuser in our lives is to Pause in His Presence, and allow our hearts to be entwined with His.

The ESV says that when we wait for Him, we are not put to shame. When our hearts are entwined with His, we feel His heartbeat for us.  We come to know His absolute approval of us, and we are convicted of the higher calling that He has created us for. He reminds us of our righteousness, by faith, in Him, and that we have no need to fear as His perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18).  

So who would be disgraced, whose heart is entwined with His?  He will certainly never disgrace you.

If you are fighting off shame or disgrace today, take the pressure off yourself.  Pause in His Presence, and bind your heart to His.  Allow His love and truth to wash over you as the shame and disgrace fall off.

You are SO loved.

— Mandy Woodhouse