“God, make me a person with thick pores and skin and a smooth coronary heart. Make me a person who is hard and tender. Make me powerful so I can deal with life. Make me tender so I can love folks. God, make me a person.”
~Darrin Patrick, Church Planter (2010)
On the day of my induction to pastoral ministry at Lakeside Baptist Church in Perth, Western Australia, the very day I write this in actual fact, I used to be given this quote, above, that rings with the drone of historic fact by way of the Spirit in me. It was given to me by a youthful man, a high-performance athlete, a person after the guts of God in being an actual man; a person I’ve the utmost respect for due to the ardency by way of which he adheres to the reality in his life. So, when he gave me a particular hand-written notice – with the quote inscribed inside it – it was probably the most treasured object and interplay I took from the day.
The notice was each an encouragement and a problem.
I couldn’t assist exploring this knowledge from God by way of his trustworthy servant. The notice was signed off, “A lot love & HAZAK.” An encouragement and problem.
BE STRONG (HEBREW: HAZAK)
The core of the message, the valuable ore that’s reclaimed within the phrases, offered as a stockpile of manly magnificence, is to be sturdy. However to be sturdy is to be shrewd round what it actually means.
To have thick pores and skin and a smooth coronary heart isn’t any simple process; maybe there may be nothing tougher. However that is the inevitable process for the person of God – the person resonating Christ from inside and permeating outwards.
The prayer I used to be given displays the prayer I am positive God needs all of us males to hope. Being that it is a prayer from the Spirit of God, himself, to me, by way of this trustworthy brother in Christ, it shall be my prayer now, too.
To be sturdy shouldn’t be a lot to do with bodily power, although on the similar time it’s every thing in regards to the software of braveness that underpins bodily power within the warmth of battle. It appears to me that the power we apply in a bodily battle is that selfsame power we apply in a religious battle. It comes from inside; from the Holy Spirit inside, sure upon our obedience to the Spirit.
Such power to “be sturdy” is manifest within the good steadiness of getting thick pores and skin but a smooth coronary heart; a factor I’ll now ever attempt for. Thick pores and skin is for the challenges and pressures of life – a few of that are relational. A smooth coronary heart is all relational; the flexibility to permit others their success even when at a private price.
***
God, make me a person; sincere with myself, sincere with others as a lot as you’ll permit, and above all sincere with you. My honesty will be a part of your blessing to make me thick-skinned but soft-hearted. Then I will probably be a person. AMEN.
© 2013 S. J. Wickham.
Devoted to Ben Beran.
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