Devotions based on Brennan Manning’s book, The Rabbi’s Heartbeat

So often we want to present a perfect image to others that they may admire us but consequently they don’t know us. Augustine wrote, “There can only be two basic loves, the love of God unto the forgetfulness of self, or the love of self unto the forgetfulness of God.”  When we refuse to live out of our authentic self and refuse to be our true self even with God, we will lack intimacy with Him.   We need to accept the reality of our sinfulness which means accepting our true self. Judas could not face his shadow; Peter could.  When we accept the truth of what we really are and surrender it to him, we will be enveloped in peace. We can burn the old tapes of self-centeredness and let go of our fear of the Father and dislike of ourselves. We belong to Him! The more we are in His presence, the less we will need to have the adulation of others. He is enough! In His presence we can discover the joy of living by grace and not by performance. . We can speak honestly to Him any time, any place, under any circumstance. We don’t have to wear masks but come to Him dirty and ragged and in our brokenness. He will embrace us.