Morning Prayer - In the Warmth of Your Presence

Lord,

my heart has grown numb and cold, so this morning I seek the warmth of Your presence.

I no longer wish to live with a frozen heart, trapped in a shell of ice.

Please, melt the ice of fear, pride, and old wounds that has covered my soul.

My heart has become like a frozen river—seemingly calm and solid on the surface, but beneath, devoid of life and flow. Your voice pierces this icy silence as You ask me:

“Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened?” (Mark 8:17)

Yes, Lord, it is. I confess that my heart is hardened and cold. But I long for a thaw. Your word invites me to action, to the first strike against the ice:

“Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.” (Hosea 10:12)

For me, this “breaking up your fallow ground” today is the shattering of the icy crust that separates me from You and from others.

But I know it is not about the force of my blows, but about the warmth of my surrender. Your true invitation is deeper:

“So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.” (Joel 2:13)

To rend one’s heart… this is to accept Your warmth, which melts the ice from the inside out. Help me to approach You today with the heart of a little child, vulnerable and open.

It is time to seek You, that the sheets of ice may give way and make room for Your rain of righteousness.

When the river flows once more, I desire that You will direct its course.

I desire that it will be You on the throne of my heart, not my own frozenness and fear.

May today be the day I open myself to Your grace, which brings the thaw and new life.