Open Heart: 30 Days with God

By Silvio Leon III

Open Heart is a poetry devotional written straight from the heart. This book is aimed to expose people to an uncomfortable intimacy with God. No matter what struggles readers may encounter on their spiritual journey (bitterness, grief, lust, betrayal, etc.) Open Heart reveals the authors past and current struggles with daily devotionals to encourage readers they are not alone in their own personal struggles. Its time for people to experience freedom from barriers they have put before God and become spiritually naked.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512760316

Silvio Leon III

Silvio was born and raised in Miami Florida. He is a History teacher. Silvio served in Destino, a non-profit movement aimed to lead college students to Christ. He has lead missions, discipleship, bible studies, etc. He is passionate to see people touched by God’s undying love. Silvio’s love for writing has inspired him to ‘be real’ and courageous to share the inner core of his soul to God and others. As an aspiring author, Silvio dreams to publish many books so people would be one step closer to Jesus.

Book preview

Copyright © 2016 Silvio Leon III.

Author photo by Delia Betancourt

Thanks to my barber/hairstylist Nathaniel Carrasquillo for my haircut and trim of the beard.

The Cover Art is by My sister, Melissa Leon

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5127-6032-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-6033-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-6031-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016916888

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/31/2016

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Arise

Agape’s Lines

All Powerful

The Coming Day

Forever Great

By My Side

Suffering Heart

Abba’s Response

The Potter

Mountain (Anchored)

My Greatest Treasure

Wild

To The Fight

My Foundation

Nothing Else

I Can See

Lavished

Fearful

Jars

No Worries

Spirit Within

Time to Rise

Guide

Forgive

My Best Friend

True Love

Repentance

Wandering Heart

My Purpose

Decisions

Sinner’s Prayer

Welcome

Acknowledgments

I thank and give all the glory to Jesus Christ. He personally called me to write Open Heart. He has given me the gift and passion to write. I want to give special thanks to my mom and dad, who lift me up with my God-given gifts; Meli for illustrating the awesome book cover; and lastly, Lyle Green, who believes in my true potential.

Introduction

Hello friend!

I want to personally thank you for picking up Open Heart. This book was written with much prayer and guidance from the Holy Spirit. This has been an incredible journey of my life to finally share my heart for God to the world. God has given me the courage to glorify Him and share His unconditional love to everyone interested in reading Open Heart. I pray Jesus Christ will use this book to transform people’s lives and draw near to Him in freedom. I always desired to write books, but never did I think it would be so soon.

In the last week of June 2014, I spent time with God during a mission trip in the Dominican Republic. As I prayed, Jesus Christ told me to write a devotional. But this was not any devotional I have personally witnessed before. Open Heart consists of the poetry I have written over the past few years of my spiritual journey with Jesus Christ. These poems are outward expressions to God that reach deeply from my heart to His. After each poem there is a message aligned to it with Scripture readings.

I believe many Christians struggle to share their wounds, thoughts, and sins with God. For some reason we allow shame to cover us, keeping us from being spiritually naked to Him. I hope this book helps people to turn away from legalism, shame, and/or self-righteousness, and come before Him in humility and speak from the heart with confession and vulnerability. Jesus Christ does not favor religion. He desires us to have an intimate relationship with Him.

My goal is not to dwell deeply into theology in this book nor replace the Bible at all. In fact, all these poems have been inspired by the Word of God. Without His Word, this book would not exist; nor would I. I wrote this book to show people how real we can be with God. I pray emotional, spiritual, and mental barriers or strongholds that prevent people from speaking to God personally will shatter to the ground.

I believe the Holy Spirit will use this book to draw people closer to Him. Whether you are a veteran in the Christian faith or a new believer, I hope God uses this book to stir passion in your heart for Him, practice vulnerability to the Lord, bring personal healing and freedom from bondage, and reveal any gifts you have so others may become children of our beloved Abba.

If you are not a Christian, I welcome you to read this book. I hope and pray you come along with me in this spiritual journey. My hope is that God will use Open Heart to help you seek deeply within your soul for what you truly desire. God loves you, my friend. Enjoy!

Arise

O Lord, how I’ve wept

With such pain, which crept.

Barely done anything nor slept

As my heart to you it leapt.

Tears flowed down like streams;

Too much to bear it seems.

The pain, shame, and condemnation which screams.

So much pressure yet difficult to let out steam.

Thoughts and doubts fluttered in my mind

As my emotions clashed in a grind.

Fear left me in a bind.

O God, how I asked for a sign!

Father, how troublesome it is to let pride go,

Yet it is the best option I know.

Retaliations and insults can bring people low,

But you, Jesus, redeem us white as snow.

This path has been overbearing in so many ways.

How can a man live without you through his days?

I desire your love as I stare out to the bay,

A minor reflection of your love Yahweh.

O how you comfort the brokenhearted

As if it was the first day we started

To appreciate your love which restarted

A wave of grace which darted

The hearts of the Jews and Gentiles,

From one block in Zion to many miles,

Around the world, impacting people from different cultural styles,

From the wilderness to the church aisles.

As I cried out your name,

You did not leave me the same,

In my state of lame

Nor ensnared within the game.

You wrapped yourself onto me

With such compassion and comfort that dwells within thee,

Rejuvenating my soul as you set me free,

So I can rise as the man of God you made me to be.

Devotional

Life is full of trials and tribulations. These troublesome times can bring us to very low points in our lives. During a difficult time, I felt overwhelmed with such confusion as negative news bombarded me all at once. My heart barely made it out. Every time I attempted to know or figure out my situation on my own, I ended up feeling emptier inside.

Emotions can be beautiful when we are completely joyful because we reflect the joy God has for us. But when our hurts unceasingly replay in our minds, our emotions feel as an anchor, pulling us down into the abyss. When we are in a tight bind are the moments God gives us to express everything to Him.

God loves us so much that He is willing to listen to every single detail of what is going on within us. As always, God is our comforter, and He is very keen to take care of His beloved children who are suffering. He is full of compassion and grace.

He wants the very best for us and undoubtedly suffers as we suffer. When we cry out to Him, He will come and