VEKIRU
Today's reading: Joel

"That is why the Lord says, Turn to me now, while there is time! Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping and mourning. Don't tear your clothing in your grief, instead, tear your hearts." Joel 2:12-13 NLT

I've had my nose in the Hebrew Lexicon this morning. I needed to know. I wanted to dig deeper. I was on a mission to find out.

Just what was meant by 'tearing your heart'?

I had read before where tearing one's clothing was a sign of repentance and sorrow over sin. Several times in the Bible I've read account of that practice.

I understand the weeping, the fasting and the mourning.

But to 'tear our hearts'? I have a mental picture that I believe lines up with the Scripture, but I wanted to be sure.

Vekiru, the Hebrew word used in this verse, means to cut, tear or split apart.

That's a visual I can use to understand this verse. To 'split apart' the very center of me, expose it to God, open it up to such a degree as to be able to see deep inside, nothing hidden, nothing left to see.

That's a deep thought. That's a decision that takes guts, determination and action on our part. It doesn't just happen. It isn't easy. There is no telling what will be found when one allows it to happen.

I don't think once one tears their heart in this way, it will ever, in a million years ever, be the same again.

That's what I want.